MEMBERSHIP Number 32 April 2004 The annual subscription for individual membership of ISRS for a family membership. Those received after 1st May will cost US$32, is currently US$80, provided renewal payments are made by 1st March US$100 and US$110 respectively. New members can join at the base each year. Individual and Family Members receive the journal Coral rate of US$25, US$80 and US$90 at any time of the year. Financial Reefs, the magazine Reef Encounter and other periodic mailings. Family assistance may be available to prospective members with legitimate membership is US$90. Student membership costs US$25 and benefi ts needs. Please contact ISRS Corresponding Secretary Richard Aronson include all of the above except the journal Coral Reefs. at [email protected]. The Category - Sustaining Member- is for those supporting the Institutional subscriptions to Coral Reefs must be placed society with a subscription of $200. In addition to other benefi ts, sustaining directly with Springer-Verlag. members will see their names printed in each issue of Reef Encounter. Subscriptions to the Society should be addressed to: Renewals received between 1 March and 30 April will cost International Society for Reef Studies, P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas US$30 for a student member, US$90 for a full member and US$100 66044-8897, USA.

NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS Reef Encounter is the International Society for Reef Studies’ We acknowledge contributions by email. If you do not receive REEF magazine-style newsletter. In addition to our main feature articles, we in- an acknowledgement within one week of submitting electronic material, clude news on all aspects of reef science, including meetings, expeditions, please contact us to verify that it was received. We reserve the right book reviews, and information on student opportunities. We encourage to edit text to achieve a consistent style, and to minimize our changes ENCOUN TER discussion and debate on issues concerning reefs or the ISRS, and we you should use recent issues as style guides. We do not usually return welcome letters to the Editor for our correspondence column (Upwellings). articles for checking unless we consider our editorial changes may have We aim to complement the Society’s journal, Coral Reefs, by publishing altered your meaning. Articles are not refereed, and opinions expressed Mag a zine of the In ter nation al So ci ety for Reef Stud ies brief reviews of recent trends and developments that bear on reef studies. and errors of fact remain largely the author’s responsibility. No published Please note that Reef Encounter does not publish original scientifi c data. item should be taken as ISRS opinion unless indicated. Please note that We do, however, have a section reporting on recent publications (Reef Reef Encounter is an entirely voluntary effort. We do not have funds to Briefs). To have a paper to be included, please send a copy (reprint or pay contributors, and the editors are also unpaid. corrected proofs only) to the Editor. Articles should range between 200 We welcome contributions regardless of when they arrive. Issue and 2000 words. Except in exceptional circumstances, text should be 33 (expected out in June 2004) will have the updated yearly schedule of sent by email to [email protected] when you can expect Reef Encounter in the future. Submissions for issue Reef Encounter has an informal and journalistic style, and 33 are due 1 April 2004. If you are planning a substantial contribution, it while references are permitted, they should be kept to a minimum. Please will help the Editor plan ahead by contacting him well in advance of the number references in the text using superscript, and list them at the end deadline. Thank you for your support. of the article in the order in which they are cited, fi rst through the text, and then through the table and fi gure legends. Each reference should have a unique number, and references should not be combined. Avoid the use DEADLINE FOR COPY FOR REEF ENCOUNTER 33 of op.cit. or ibid, and use World List abbreviations. In all other aspects, (DUE OUT JULY 2004) IS 1 MAY 2004 references should follow the style prescribed for Coral Reefs. We particularly welcome artwork and photographs to help us Please send correspondence and submissions to one of illustrate the magazine. Images can be sent as hard copy to the Editor. these addresses: Electronic images should have a resolution of 350 dpi and must be a [email protected] size appropriate for the magazine format. In particular, we cannot enlarge small electronic images and retain publishable quality. We prefer tiff format Editor, William F. Precht, PBS&J, 2001 NW 107th avenue, fi les. Where images are included in the article, please send legends Miami, FL 33172. Email: [email protected] and/or captions separately (not in the image fi le). Explain all symbols, abbreviations, shading patterns, etc. Maps should have a scale and Associate Editor, Martha L. Robbart, PBS&J, 2001 NW 107th indicate orientation. Please use either metric units or imperial with metric avenue, Miami, FL 33172. Email: [email protected] units. Please send with your article a short ‘by-line’ explaining who you are. Include your full address and email details which will be published Associate Editor, Beth Zimmer, PBS&J, 2001 NW 107th av- with your article. We have no regular reprint system, but contributors who enue, Miami, FL 33172. Email: [email protected] are not already members will receive a free copy of the relevant issue. Please consider joining the society if you are not already a member!

APPLICATION FORM FOR MEMBERSHIP Name: ...... I/We enclose a cheque (in US$ ONLY please) of: Address: ...... US$80 for FULL membership ...... US$90 for FAMILY membership ...... US$25 for STUDENT membership Title: ...... US$200 for SUSTAINING membership Fields of Interest: ...... Credit Card Payment: VISA/Mastercard

Bank drafts and cheques to be made payable to: International Society for Reef Studies. If a receipt is required, please request it at the time No...... Expir. Date ...... of payment. Send completed application forms and payment to ISRS, P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-8897, USA. Signature ......

68 Reef En counter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org ISSN 0255-2787 18 Upwellings Reef Fishes, Corals and Invertebrates of the Reef Encounter No. 32, April 2004 Comment on the Article ‘Condylactis gigantea – A South China Sea Including Thailand, Hong Kong, Magazine of the International Society for Reef Studies Giant Comes Under Pressure from the Aquarium China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia Trade in Florida’ H Feddern and the Philippines Editor William F Precht Mask, Fins, Camera!! P Todd Coral Reefs Associate Editors Martha L Robbart and Beth Zimmer 20 Obituary The Great Barrier Reef: Finding the Right Bal- [email protected] R.E. (Bob) Johannes (1936 - 2002) C Wilkinson ance Terry Scoffi n (1941 - 2002) S Tudhope 66 Diary 23 Currents The 33rd Annual Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting President CONTENTS Nicholas Polunin, Marine Science & Technology, Newcastle University, A preliminary assessment of the coral reefs of 10th International Coral Reef Symposium – Sta- 3 Editorial WF Precht, ML Robbart, B Zimmer NE1 7RU, UK Tel +44 (0)191 222 6675 Fax+44 (0)191 222 7891 Email Europa (Mozambique channel) JP Quod and bility and Degradation of Coral Reef Ecosystems 3 ISRS Comment [email protected] Rémi Garnier Climate Change and Aquatic Systems: Past, From the Outgoing President T Done Vice President Acanthaster planci on La Réunion reefs (Western Present & Future Richard Aronson, Dauphin Island Sea Lab., P.O. Box 369 370 Dauphin Indian Ocean) J Emeras, M-P Falquet, C Conand 4th International Bioerosion Workshop (IBW-4) From the Incoming President N Polunin Island, AL 36528, USA Tel +1 334 861 7567 Fax +1 334 861 7540 Email 5 ISRS News [email protected] Species Composition And Distribution Of The ISRS Offi cers and Council Members Treasurer Scleractinian Of Vietnam YuYa Latypov 2004 Election of Offi cers and Councillors – Call John Ware, SeaServices Inc., 19572 Club House Road, Montgomery Archipiélago Jardines De La Reina, Cuba: Thirty for Nominations Village, MD 20886, USA. Tel +1 301 987 8507 Fax +1 301 987 8531 years later, species richness of scleractinian cor- Email [email protected] 10th International Coral Reef Symposium: Stabil- als remains high VN Zlatarski, PM Alcolado, SG Corresponding Secretary Ferrer, P Kramer ity and Degradation of Coral Reef Ecosystems Peter Mumby, Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sci- Travel Awards for 10th ICRS ences, Hatherly Laboratory, Prince of Wales Road, University of Exeter, Reef Discovery and Utilization in Antongil Bay, Eleventh International Coral Reef Symposium: Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PS, UK Tel + 44 (0)1392 263798 Fax + 44 (0)1392 Republic Of Madagascar K Mobley, P Doukakis, Call for expression of Interest and Guidelines for 263700 Email [email protected] M Jonahson Application and Selection N Polunin Recording Secretary Seychelles’ Coral Reefs Under Survey After the Peter Edmunds, Department of Biology, California State University, 1998 Bleaching Event B Wendling, PA Adam, The 2004 Darwin Medal winner 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330, USA Tel +1 818 677 2502 International Society for Reef Studies: Financial Fax +1 818 677 2034 Email [email protected] U Engelhardt, G Rosine, R Alcindor, V Zialor, A Louange Report 2002 JR Ware Magazine Editors 2002 ISRS/The Ocean Conservancy Fellowship WF Precht, ML Robbart, B Zimmer A New MPA Experience in Brazil O Costa Z Leão Winners Coral Reefs Implications Of Predator-Prey Relationships For ISRS Library Awards 2003 T Done Managing Editor R Dodge, Geological Editor PK Swart, Ecological Marine Protected Area Design NAJ Graham Editor, PF Sale, Biological Editors RC Carpenter, HR Lasker, K Sullivan Coral Reefs and bleaching: death by a thousand ISRS logo competition Sealey, Environmental Editor BG Hatcher Vaughan’s Ruler cuts? R Berkelmans Council Reef Fishery Management in Discovery Bay, 16 News RE Dodge (USA), K Fabricius (Australia), J Garzon-Ferriera (Columbia), Love On The Rocks - Coral Spawning Takes Two O Hoegh-Guldberg (Australia), H Kayanne (Japan), Tim McClanahan Jamaica PMH Gayle, MJ Sikora J Hart (Kenya), L Montaggioni (France), M Pichon (France), WF Precht (USA), A New Protocol for Surveying Elkhorn and Stag- Canada designates Coral Conservation Area off H Schuhmacher (Germany), K Sullivan-Sealey (USA), K Teleki (UK), M horn Coral C Rogers, C Loomis, B Devine Tsuchiya (Japan), R van Woesik (Japan), H Vogt (UK) Georges Bank 52 Country Profi le ISRS Sustaining Members Coral Reefs of Fiji Islands: Current Issues Gene Shinn Wins 2002 Shoemaker Award for H Arnold, BE Brown & R Dunne, DG Fautin & RW Buddemeier, RN Distinguished Achievement in Communications Ginsburg, AJ Hooten, LL Jackson, M Keyes, WE Kiene, T McClanahan & RL Cumming, WGL Aalbersberg, ER Lovell, Damselfi sh Eggs K Kavanagh N Muthiga, S Miller, J Ruitenbeek, DR Stoddart, JR Ware & W Ware, JS H Sykes, VC Vuki Ault, BE Brown & R Dunne, DG Fautin & RW Buddemeier, RN Ginsburg, Mauritius: a small refuge with conservation poten- AJ Hooten, LL Jackson, B Keller, T McClanahan & N Muthiga, S Miller, J tial? TR McClanahan, KR Moothien Pillay, (Contents continued on inside back cover) Ruttenbeek, DR Stoddart, KA Teleki, W & JR Ware H Terashima ISRS Honorary Members J Connell, S Kawagut, DW Kinsey, JE Randall, G Scheer, DR Stoddart, 60 Book Review JI Tracey Jr Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecology D Fenner Reef Encounter is printed on recycled paper by Allen Press Inc., The International Society for Reef Studies was founded at a meeting in Churchill College, Fire in the Turtle House M Hall 810 East Tenth, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA. Cambridge, UK in December 1980. The Fragile Reef D Fenner Its aim under the consttution is to promote for the benefi t of the public, the production and dis- semination of scientifi c knowledge and un der stand ing concerning coral reefs, both living and Field Guide to Corals of Mauritius D Fenner fossil. Aquarium Corals D Fenner Cover image: This photo of Montastraea franksi In order to achieve its aim, the Society has the following powers: 62 Who’s Who shingles was taken by WF Precht at the Flower Garden i. To hold meetings, symposia, conferences and other gatherings to disseminate this scientifi c knowledge and understanding of coral reefs, both living and fossil. Banks National Marine Sanctuary in April 2003. Coral Reef Conservation Campaign APL Prates ii. To print, publish and sell, lend and distribute any papers, treatise or communications relating to coral reefs, living and fossil, and any Reports of the Proceedings or the Accounts of the Society 10th ICRS Pre-Symposium Workshop on Coral iii. To raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any persons whatsoever by way of Reefs and Global Change A Grottoli subscription, donation or otherwise providing that the Society shall not undertake any per ma nent trading activities in raising funds for its primary objects. 65 Bookshelf COPY DEADLINE FOR REEF EN COUN TER 33 CORAL’s Turtle Watching Guide (due out JULY 2004) IS MAY 1 2004 The Society collaborates with Springer-Verlag in producing the quarterly journal Coral Reefs. This large-format journal is issued free of charge to all members of the Society, and con cen trates The Ecology of Fishes on Coral Reefs on quantitative and theoretical reef studies, including experimental and laboratory work and modelling.

2 Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 67 EDITORIAL AND ISRS COMMENT EDITORIAL Welcome to the long overdue issue This issue has some important Following the sad news of Bob of Reef Encounter! We are your news from your Society, including Johannes’ and Terry Scoffi n’s death, new editorial team and are excited information on the upcoming 10ICRS two of the great champions of coral about this opportunity to bring you meeting in Okinawa Japan, as well sub- reef science and conservation, we interesting articles, papers, opinions, sidized travel for meritorious students have included full obituaries of both. announcements and more from the or researchers, so be sure to read this Thanks go out to all our contribu- coral reef scientifi c and conservation section carefully. We have assembled a tors in this issue. Please keep the community. You will notice that this is- broad spectrum of articles (Currents) contributions coming, as this is a sue is substantially larger than previous coming from the Pacifi c, Southeast magazine-style newsletter where you issues. We will be returning to normal Asia, East Africa and the Caribbean. can communicate your exciting news, publication schedule and size, with a From scleractinians in Vietnam to fi sh- thoughts, and ideas to colleagues new look and format, so be sure to note eries management in Jamaica, there around the world. the submission deadlines (see inside is certainly something for everyone in WF Precht, ML Robbart cover for details). this issue. and B Zimmer

panion. What must be done to secure International Coral Reef Symposium in ISRS COMMENT the future for coral reefs? The answer Bali, October 2000 and in the distri- FROM THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT to this question will vary from place to bution of the Proceedings, including place, and it will have many dimensions donations of copies to laboratories in This message marks the twenty-fi rst that are beyond the present scope of developing countries. Our growth in birthday of ISRS. While twenty-one this Society. We currently embrace membership to over 1100 has enabled years is a good innings for the Society, studies of biology, ecology, geology us to broaden our support to institu- it is just a blink of the eye in the exis- and environment with a reef focus. tions in developing countries through tence of any coral reef, it is more than Actions for coral reef management and donations of sets of back-issues of the the life expectancy of many corals, and conservation involve people, and their journal Coral Reefs. it is the entire window of observation dimensions are institutional, techno- This is my eighth and last message that many of us as individuals can hope logical, political, social, economic and to you as President of ISRS. Major cor- to have on coral reefs. Collectively, the cultural. Our perennial challenge is to al bleaching episodes marked the start, Society both broadens that window and seek to be more effective in the com- middle, and end of my term, but I am looks into detail of coral reef structure munication of our diverse science and assured that correlation is not evidence and process that could not have been in our engagement with the broader of causation. It is a great pleasure that contemplated twenty-one years ago. community of intergovernmental, one of my fi nal duties will be the grant- With all the pressures faced by coral governmental, non-governmental and ing of Honorary Life Membership to our reefs, and all the other organizations commercial users of coral reefs. founding President, David Stoddart. out there speaking and acting for coral In recent years, we have comple- David, a distinguished geographer reefs, it is more important than ever mented our technical journal Coral at Cambridge University and then that we retain our distinctive role as the Reefs and our newsletter Reef University of California, Berkeley, was credible voice of the scientifi c research Encounter with consensus state- a prime mover of the First International community. ments on coral bleaching, coral reef Coral Reef Symposium held in India The vision of founding President diseases and sustainable fi shing that in 1969. In the Proceedings of that David Stoddart and his inaugural mem- were targeted to support the efforts of meeting, he planted the seed of an bership of a few dozen people was a the newly formed International Coral idea for an International Society for society that would bring together peo- Reef Initiative, our main conduit to Reef Studies, and in the subsequent ple with diverse knowledge and skills coral reef policy globally. We have decade, was instrumental in bringing it to explore the paradoxes and questions also been active in scientifi c capac- to life in September 1981. It has been that are coral reefs – the many faceted ity building. Through our association a great privilege for me to serve as ‘coral reef problem’ of why and how with The Ocean Conservancy and the President in the four years up to our coral reefs exist where and as they generosity of donors, we are able to coming of age, and I thank all the of- do. Now, with a much larger and more provide several valuable post-gradu- fi cers, council members and members materially demanding humanity, and ate fellowships, and we provide travel who have worked with me. with the pressures on coral reefs and awards for students to attend our sci- And to incoming President, Nick their resources multiplying and com- entifi c meetings. In partnership with the Polunin, offi cers and council – best pounding, the questions of why, how Indonesian organizing committee, we of luck! and where have an unwelcome com- were instrumental in running the Ninth Terry Done

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 3 EDITORIAL AND ISRS COMMENT

FROM THE INCOMING PRESIDENT the middle ground; the same is true come, both disciplined information and for ‘environmentalists’ in the opposite political decision making are going to In days gone by, the younger genera- direction. In the case of scientists, the be needed. Noting the emphasis on tion might have preferred optimism to criticism of ‘fi sheries science’ and the science in our constitution, where does ‘blimpish’ views of its silver-haired hard-nosed nature and small packets that put our International Society for mentors that everything had gone of most research funding scarcely en- Reef Studies? downhill since they started their ca- courage the research most needed to The growth of non-governmental or- reers. But within my 30 years’ expe- reverse the sorry state of the fi sheries. ganisations in the recent past address- rience the face of many reefs has Analogous thoughts come to mind in ing the need for conservation of coral changed fundamentally. At this time I relation to coral bleaching and other reefs in the face of bleaching, fi shing, can appreciate the feeling of many that human-induced threats to the structural eutrophication, tourism, invasions, it has become harder to distinguish integrity of reefs. Yet, such venturing outbreaks and other such events and between apocalyptic views and the sci- is important ground for the future. The impacts, has been tremendous. The entifi c tendency to refer to nothing as application of rigorous experimental ISRS, through its members and their ‘doom’ until all the facts are known. The science in small manageable reef vast expertise, has a pivotal role to play stakes seem steadily higher, but a vast spaces to the large-scale issues of in the disciplined work that these sub- space remains between environmental concern will remain contentious for jects demand. We are the world body science and ‘environmentalism.’ Few the foreseeable future. As we try to concerned with the science of coral working scientists really venture into forecast the likely states of reefs to reefs. Our scientifi c journal is currently the most highly ranked of those which regularly address the understanding of coral reefs, and thanks to successive local organising committees we man- age the major international scientifi c conference series solely aimed at reef science. It is time for the ISRS’ vast collec- tive experience and knowledge to be more widely recognised in the context of the Society. I would like to see us together exploring how we can build ‘the scientifi c knowledge and under- standing of coral reefs, both living and fossil.’ One of the ways of doing this is by producing authoritative briefi ng papers on important topical issues, we expect to put four such papers to the members for feedback before the 10th ICRS. Many of you will have noticed that with your renewals we are seeking more information about members than we have previously. The goal of this is to call on the membership to help with tasks such as the briefi ng papers as new needs arise. Thanks to FIT and Rob van Woesik we are putting the Web to greater work and this is our big year. I am pleased to say we are offering more funds in 2004 for the ISRS/TOC Fellowships than we have ever done. But at present this money has to be raised on an annual basis and so we are working hard now to get recurring funds for this valuable sup- port to young scientists. Here’s looking at you Okinawa! Honorary Life Membership to our founding President, David Stoddart Nicholas Polunin

4 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org ISRS NEWS ISRS Offi cers and Council Members The following are the results of elections for the International Society for Reef Studies, held in September 2002. New offi cers and council members will take up duties on January 1st 2003.

President: Nicholas V. C. Polunin Continuing offi cers and council members Vice President: Richard B. Aronson (until Dec 31 2004) Corresponding Secretary: Peter J. Mumby Treasurer - John Ware Councillors: Recording Secretary - Peter Edmunds Richard Dodge Katharina Fabricius Jaime Garzon-Ferreira Ove Hoegh-Guldberg Hajime Kayanne Tim McClanahan Lucien Montaggioni Michel Pichon Kathleen Sullivan-Sealey William Precht Helge Peter Vogt Helmut Schuhmacher Robert Van Woesik Makoto Tsuchiya

2004 Election of Offi cers and Councillors - Call for Nominations The International Society for Reef Studies will be holding elections in September 2004 to replace outgoing offi cers and members of the ISRS Council. We will be electing a new Treasurer (currently John Ware) and recording secretary (currently Pete Edmunds). In addition, we will be replacing six retiring members of the ISRS Council: Robert van Woesik, Lucien Montaggioni, Kathleen Sullivan-Sealey, Helge P. Vogt, Jaime Garzón-Ferreira and Hajime Kayanne. The tenure of each elected position is 4 years, and new offi cers and councillors will take over beginning 1 January 2005. These positions are open only to members of ISRS. Nominations should be submitted to Corresponding Secretary Peter Mumby by post (Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Prince of Wales Road, University of Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK), by fax (44-1392-263798), or as an email attachment ([email protected]). Because of constitutional requirements, a nomination submitted as text of an email message cannot be accepted unless it is also submitted by one of the above methods. Each nomination should consist of the person’s name, institution and country, and the post for which s/he is running. Each candidate should provide a one-paragraph statement about his/her qualifi cations for the position (a brief history of his/her involvement in coral reef work) and objectives while in that position (how s/he envisions working to the benefi t of ISRS). Also required by the Society’s bylaws is a statement of disclosure of any fi nancial arrangements the candidate may have with any publisher of scientifi c literature. Self-nominations are welcome. If you wish to nominate someone other than yourself, please ask that person to mail, fax or email Peter Mumby a confi rmation of his/her willingness to run for the offi ce. DEADLINE: The deadline for nominations is 7 June 2004. Ballots and biographical sketches will be mailed to all members of ISRS, to be returned to the Recording Secretary in September (exact date to be announced). The biographical sketches of the candidates will also be posted on the ISRS web site, http//www.fi t.edu/isrs/ until the day ballots are due. The results of the election will be announced once the ballots have been counted. This is your chance to participate in running your Society. We look forward to hearing from you!

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 5 ISRS NEWS 10TH INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF SYMPOSIUM STABILITY AND DEGRADATION OF CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS 28 June to 2 July 2004, Okinawa Convention Center, Okinawa, Japan

The 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, Okinawa, Japan, is being organized and coordinated by the Japanese Coral Reef Society in collaboration with the ISRS. The Organizing Committee has selected Stability and Degradation of Coral Reef Ecosystems as the main theme of the 10th Symposium, and has identifi ed four concurrent sub-themes for further discussion and elaboration:

1) The evolution of coral reef ecosystems 2) Environmental factors controlling coral reef formation in time and space 3) The relationship between ecosystem stability and biogeochemical cycles 4) Towards a system where humans and coral reefs coexist

The Organizing Committee invites the submission of mini-symposium titles based on these themes. Please refer to the fi rst circular and 10th ICRS homepage www.plando.co.jp/icrs2004 for the further details. The fi rst circular has been distributed to all ISRS members (July 2002) and those who attended the previous symposium in Bali, Indonesia. Those who have not received the fi rst circular and are interested in participating in the next symposium in Okinawa are encouraged to contact the organizing committee. International Organizing Committee Kiyoshi Yamazato (Japan), Makoto Tsuchiya (Japan), Terry Done (Australia), Hajime Kayanne (Japan), Yoshimi Suzuki (Japan), Toru Nakamori (Japan), Makoto Omori (Japan), Kenji Konishi (Japan), Masashi Chikamori (Japan), Richard Kenchington (Australia), Barbara Brown (UK), Michel Pichon (France), Edgardo Gomez (Philippines), Anugerah Nontji (Indonesia), Don Potts (USA), Robert van Woesik (USA). Local Organizing Committee President: Kiyoshi Yamazato (Meio Univ.) Committee Chair: Makoto Tshuchiya (Univ. Ryukyus) Secretariat General: Hajime Kayanne (Univ. Tokyo); Scientifi c Program: Yoshimi Suzuki (Shizuoka Univ.), Toru Nakamori (Tohoku Univ.), Michio Hidaka (Univ. Ryukyus), Tamotsu Oomori (Univ. Ryukyus), Hironobu Kan (Okayama Univ,), Beatriz Casareto E. (Lab. Aquatic Science Consultant); Finance: Kimiaki Kudo (Global Ocean Development Inc.), Tatsuo Nakai (Nature Conservation Society of Japan), Yutaka Tateda (Central Res. Inst. Electric Power Industry), Koichi Sakai (WCCS); Venue: Yuji Arakaki (Meio Univ.), Shinya Matsuda (Univ. Ryukyus), Hideyuki Yamashiro (Meio Univ.) Public Relations: Kazuo Nadaoka (Tokyo Inst. Techonology), Saki Harii (Tokyo Inst. Techonology), Hiroya Yamano (National Inst. Environmental Studies)

Supporting Institutions (as in June 2002): Okinawa Prefecture, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

For more information on the 10th ICRS please contact: Plando Japan, e-mail , Fax 81-3-5470-4410 or www.plando.co.jp/icrs2004

6 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org ISRS NEWS TRAVEL AWARDS FOR 10th ICRS The International Society for Reef Studies recently received grants from The David and Lucille Packard Foundation and The Henry Foundation to support travel to the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, to be held in Okinawa, Japan from June 28 to July 2, 2004. The awards, which will be administered by the Florida Institute of Oceanography, are intended for students and researchers at the beginning of their careers who have legitimate fi nancial needs. For the approximately 50 Packard awards, special attention will be given to applicants from developing countries of the Pacifi c Rim, but others in developed and developing countries may apply as well. A maximum of 4-6 Henry awards are for applicants from the Caribbean region. Most of the awards will be made in increments of US$500 to a maximum of $1500, but larger awards will be considered in cases of extraordinary need. The Local Organizing Committee of 10th ICRS will waive registration fees for the awardees, and those awardees who have already registered will be reimbursed. Each recipient will be re- quired to submit a one-page report by September 2004 detailing her/his activities at the Symposium and the personal signifi cance of the support. Awards will be made by direct bank transfer, not as reimbursements. Applicants should submit the following informa- tion, preferably by email, to the address below. (1) Full name, date of birth, citizenship, institution, address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address. (2) A two-page essay (double-spaced, on A4 or letter-size paper) that briefl y describes the research in which the applicant is engaged and the reasons for wishing to attend the 10ICRS. Also, please include a paragraph describing the reasons for requesting fi nancial assistance. (3) The cost of the least expensive economy round-trip airfare between the applicants institution and Okinawa, quoted in US dollars. (4) Name, position and email contact of one individual who can serve as a reference. (5) Details for bank transfer: Bank name Country Account holder Account number Routing code Deadline for applications is March 15, 2004. Please send materials to Dr. Peter Mumby, Corresponding Secretary, ISRS at [email protected]. Because of the short time available, applications can only be accepted via e-mail.

Eleventh International Coral Reef Symposium Call for expression of Interest and Guidelines for Application and Selection The International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) invites expressions of interest for the hosting of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium (‘Symposium’). ISRS will coordinate the selection process by way of an international selection committee from among its membership and other respected individuals previously involved with selection and/or running of an International Coral Reef Symposium. Schedule 1 October 2003 Call for expressions of interest. 1 March 2004 Closing date for receipt of initial expressions of interest (see item 6 below). 1 March 2004 Closing date for receipt of expressions of interest. May/June 2004 Selection committee will review applications and draw up a short list of three who will be invited to present their bid in Okinawa before the 10th ICRS. 29 June 2004 The short-listed applicants will make a presentation to the selection committee assembled at the 10th ICRS in Okinawa. It is envisaged that each of these presentations will last 1 hour including a short formal presentation and discussion. 2 July 2004 Announcement of successful bid at the closing ceremony of the 10th ICRS.

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 7 ISRS NEWS

Expressions of interest must arrive at the following address before 1 March 2004: 11ICRS International Selection Committee c/o Prof. M Pichon Laboratoire de Biologie Marine EPHE Université de Perpignan Perpignan cedex 66860 FRANCE Tel : +33 4 68 66 20 55 Fax : +33 4 68 50 36 86 Guidelines for Application and Selection 1. The International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) The International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) is an international, voluntary, organisation with ~900 members from ~50 countries and a council of 17 individuals who work for the Society in their own time. The Society uses annual sub- scriptions to produce two publications and accepts donations to allow it to award student prizes. It does not earn a profi t, and its income and expenditures each year are closely matched. The Society does not have the capability for a major role in the organization, program development and running of International Coral Reef Symposia (ICRSs), and it requires the host country and local organizing committee to take that role.` 2. Coordination and selection committee ISRS will coordinate the selection process by way of an International Selection Committee from among its membership and other respected individuals previously involved with selection and/or running of an ICRS. 3. Responsibilities of the host country and local organizing committee The host country will be required to: 1. Provide a safe venue (1 main plenary room, 10-12 additional working session rooms, offi ces for secretariat, exhibition area for paying exhibitors, boards for contributed posters), logistical support (including where possible transport, ad- jacent banking, postal, telephone, medical and photocopying services to be used on a commercial basis) and ensure adequate accommodation (see 4 below). 2. Meet all costs including those of the venue, printing of brochures, printing and distribution of proceedings, logistics (see 1 above), professional organizer, work delegated to other individuals or organizations including ISRS if applicable. 3. Take leadership in raising of additional funds to meet fi nancial targets (see below), and take responsibility for underwrit- ing the Symposium. 4. Form a local organizing committee (LOC) with the following responsibilities: Development of a budget and business plan agreed with the Selection Committee 4. Overall control and coordination of the event • Provision of a range of accommodations, from budget to luxury, and airport-hotel-venue transfers to be included within the Symposium fee. • Development of the Symposium program of ceremonies and presentations. • Provision of a program of scientifi c fi eld trips to living and, if available, fossil coral reefs. • Provision of an accompanying persons program. • Initiate fundraising to ensure the widest possible attendance. • Development and maintenance of a Symposium website. • Printing and distribution of announcements, programs and abstracts. • Editing, production and distribution of Proceedings of the Symposium, with editorial assistance from organizers of mini-symposia and others. 5. Financial targets of the LOC • The host country should take primary responsibility to: • Cover any costs incurred in presenting the Symposium, including costs incurred in preparation of the scientifi c program and creation and maintenance of the website if applicable. • Raise funds to support plenary speakers. • Raise funds to support key people in various mini-symposia. • Raise funds to support attendance of students and others from developing countries.

8 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org ISRS NEWS

• Raise funds for printing and distribution of Symposium Proceedings. • Generate a surplus to pass on to the organizers of the 12th ICRS. 6. Expressions of interest • The bidding group should make an initial expression of interest, in which key people and institutions which will make up the organizing committee are identifi ed, including government department(s) or other organisation(s) who will un- derwrite the venture. An agreement in principle will be made to conform to the requirements above. This expression of interest should include the following (in order listed): • Suggested location and dates (taking into account worldwide university schedules and local weather phenomena which might interrupt fi eld excursions). • Details of the Symposium venue and its facilities. • The availability of a range of hotels and alternative accommodation. • A concept budget itemizing major expenditure and income, including possible sources of sponsorship such as gov- ernment and private enterprise, a policy for underwriting the expense of the Symposium and allowance for a Student Travel Awards Programme (STAP). • Suggested registration fees covering ISRS members, non-members, students and accompanying members. • Nomination of a Professional Conference Organiser, with a list of events they have organised over the last 3 years, or alternatively, some form of guarantee of professional organisation of the symposium if a professional organiser is not available. • Nomination of LOC members such as (i) Chairman, (ii) Treasurer, (iii) Scientifi c program organizer, (iv) Publications editor, and (v) Scientifi c fi eld trips organizer. • Social events and accompanying members program organizer. • A timetable of organisational goals, including a schedule, procedures and targeted media for publication of the proceed- ings. • A range of pre and post symposium of scientifi c fi eld trips directed at a variety of disciplines (e.g. biology, ecology, geography, management and conservation) to locations within the region of the host country or adjacent to it. • An accompanying persons program. • Any special features such as civic receptions.

Nicholas Polunin

Dr. Charlie Veron Wins 2004 Darwin Medal The Darwin Medal, the most prestigious award given by the International Society for Reef Studies, is presented every four years at the International Coral Reef Symposium. It is awarded to a senior ISRS member who is recognized worldwide for major contributions throughout his/her career. The previous recipients have been Drs. David Stoddart, Peter Glynn, Ian Macintyre and Yossi Loya. The next occasion at which the medal will be presented is the Tenth International Coral Reef Symposium, to be held in Okinawa, Japan from 28 June to 2 July 2004. ISRS is pleased to announce that Dr. J. E. N. (Charlie) Veron has been elected to receive the 2004 Darwin Medal. Dr. Veron is Leading Scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, Queensland. ISRS President Dr. Nick Polunin will present the medal and Dr. Veron will deliver a plenary address at a ceremony in Okinawa scheduled for Tuesday 29 June. For more information on the International Coral Reef Symposium, please see www.plando.co.jp/icrs2004.

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 9 ISRS NEWS International Society for Reef Studies: Financial Report 2002 Total cash assets as of December 31, 2002 were $174,991.48 all of which are in interest checking accounts. At the begin- ning of the year cash assets were $157,263.25, representing a net increase of $17,728.23. Income and expenses were as follows (all values represented in US dollars): Income Memberships ...... 63,873.00 Interest ...... 3,324.29 Editorial Subsidies ...... 7,561.21 (from Springer-Verlag) Sales (back issues of ISRS publications) ...... 30.00 Editorial Consulting Fees ...... 2,260.00 Total Income ...... 77,048.49 Less Expenses Editorial Subsidies Paid ...... 7,557.6 Travel Expenses ...... 612.69 Postal Permit & Fees ...... 8,233.47 Bank Charges ...... 180.85 Credit Card Charges ...... 1,266.93 Management Fees - Allen Marketing & Management ...... 10,734.51 Marketing Fees - Allen Marketing & Management ...... 1,433.95 Coral Reefs - Springer-Verlag ...... 11,963.02 "Reef Encounter" - Allen Press ...... 9,510.55 Student Travel Award Program ...... 1,478.00 Miscellaneous1 ...... 6,181.70 Total Expenses ...... 59,153.27 NET INCOME2 ...... $17,895.222 Note 1: Miscellaneous expenses include books purchased by ISRS for distribution to marine labs in under-developed nations, fees for tax preparation, publications of membership directory, warehouse storage fees for back issues of publi- cations, and Cambridge Meeting expenses. Note 2: The difference between this fi gure and the “net increase” referred to in the fi rst paragraph is due to checks written in one year and not cashed until the next year. The ISRS continues to have good fi nancial success and we expect this success to continue in the future to the extent that the Society meets its members needs. The Offi cers and Council of the ISRS are actively pursuing programs to best utilize the accumulating funds.

John R. Ware Treasurer

10 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org ISRS NEWS 2002 International Society for Reef Studies/The Ocean Conservancy Fellowship Winners The International Society for Reef Studies (www.uncwil.edu/isrs) and The Ocean Conservancy (formerly the Center for Marine Conservation, www.oceanconservancy.org) awarded four fellowships this year. Many thanks to all of the students who submitted proposals and thanks to the reviewers for giving their time to this important job. All of the applications were of the highest quality, and the selection process was very competitive. The ISRS and The Ocean Conservancy congratulate the winners and wish them well with their research endeavors over the next year. For information about the Fellowship contact: Dr. Peter Edmunds (Recording Secretary, ISRS), Department of Biology, California State University, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8303, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

SPATIAL ECOLOGY OF INTENSIVELY HARVESTED REEF-TOP INVERTEBRATES IN THE COOK ISLANDS: RESPONSE TO TRADITIONAL MARINE RESERVES Throughout the Pacifi c, many echinoderms and molluscs (e.g. sea cucumbers, sea urchins, trochus and giant clams) have cultural value and are harvested extensively in the subsistence fi sheries. They often provide a substantial protein component to the traditional diet. Despite their importance, many of these species are either presently over fi shed or are vulnerable to overexploitation. This project applies spatial approaches to the study of invertebrates to aid in the management of vulnerable reef- top resources on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. I will use remote sensing This project applies spatial approaches techniques and a Geographic Information System (GIS) to accurately map to the study of invertebrates to aid in the position and extent of different reef top habitats. The information in the the management of vulnerable reef-top GIS provides the basis for designing a rigorous sampling program to assess resources on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. the distribution and abundance of the invertebrate reef top resources in different habitats, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing marine reserves in conserving the fauna. The data will be analysed using multivariate statistics, ANOVA, and regression analyses along with machine learn- ing techniques (e.g. artifi cial neural network’s and regression trees) to investigate the distribution and abundance of the reef-top invertebrates, their relationship to habitat type, and response to the recent establishment of marine protected areas (ra’ui). This research project will establish an important GIS for reef tops and their resources on Rarotonga, Cook Islands, and increase our understanding of the spatial relationship between the marine invertebrate communities and habitats. It will therefore provide management agencies with excellent information for better monitoring the status of these resources and evaluating the effectiveness of current and potential marine reserves. The integration of marine ecology, remote sensing and GIS provides a new and exciting approach to understanding tropical marine ecosystems. This study will provide the tools and methods for the Cook Island Ministry of Marine Resources to develop a simple, repeatable monitoring program that would be applicable to other small island nations. Darrin J. Drumm, Department of Marine Science, University of Otago New Zealand Email

THE EFFECTS OF INCREASED SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE (SST) AND DISEASE ON GORGONIAN CORALS IN THE CARIBBEAN My dissertation research examines the effects of increased sea surface temperature (SST) and disease on gorgonian corals in the Caribbean. I will address two hypotheses: 1) temperature-induced bleaching increases gorgonian susceptibil- ity to aspergillosis, and 2) aspergillosis negatively impacts gorgonian biodiversity. Temperature-induced coral bleaching and prevalence and severity of disease are associated with above average SSTs. While reports of coral bleaching and disease are increasing, My dissertation research examines many pathogens have not been identifi ed or are not culturable in the laboratory. A the effects of increased sea surface gorgonian coral patho- gen was discovered and isolated in 1995. The pathogen, temperature (SST) and disease on Aspergillus sydowii, is a fungus of terrestrial origin that infects at least fi ve species gorgonian corals in the Caribbean of gorgonian corals, including sea fan corals, Gorgonia ventalina and G. fl abel- lum, throughout the Caribbean and Florida Keys, USA. The optimum temperature for A. sydowii growth is 30˚C and SSTs can reach 32˚C in the Florida Keys, USA. Monitoring of sea fans in the Caribbean suggests the disease is temperature dependent with increased disease prevalence and

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 11 ISRS NEWS severity during summer. The isolation of A. sydowii provides a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between temperature, bleaching, and disease. Temperature-controlled laboratory experiments and in situ studies will be conducted at Mote Marine Laboratory Center for Tropical Research in the Florida Keys, USA. Permanent transects in the Florida Keys, USA and Akumal, Mexico will be surveyed for gorgonian diversity and disease. Jessica R. Ward, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University Email

THE EFFECTS OF A MARINE PROTECTED AREA AND HABITAT ON THE STRUCTURE OF FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF ITACOLOMIS REEFS, MARINE EXTRACTIVE RESERVE OF CORUMBAU, BRAZIL The Abrolhos reef complex is located in the northeastern coast of Brazil and it is the largest and richest reef of the south Atlantic1. Reef fi sheries are the most important subsistence or commercial activity for thousands of people in the Abrolhos region and the increasing pressure of fi sheries is leading to the fi rst signs of overexploitation2. In a recent effort to integrate biodiversity conservation and sustainable fi sheries in the Abrolhos region, the Brazilian Government, in partnership with a non-governmental organization and representatives of the local population, created the Marine Extractive Reserve of Corumbau (MERC). Inside the MERC, exploitation of marine resources is allowed only for local traditional fi shers, most of who are descendents of Pataxós Indians. A preliminary fi shery management plan includes the establishment of a MPA on the Itacolomis Reefs (the main reef complex) inside the MERC. Itacolomis Reefs (16° 55'S, 039° 03'W) have an approximate area of 15 km2. Reef structures are circular or elongate, attaining sizes that vary from a few meters The present study would help to almost a kilometre wide3. The MPA extends from the central portion of the reefs to in understanding the role of MPAs the eastern boundary of the MERC (about 4.5 km2, Figure 1). In my Ph.D. research and the infl uence of habitat, I will focus on the ef- fects of the protection from fi shing and habitat characteristics particularly reef connectivity, in on the structure of fi sh assemblages (species biomass, abundance, richness the conservation of biodiversity and diversity/domi- nance), both inside the MPA and in adjacent unprotected sites and recovery of fi sh assemblages at Itacolomis Reefs, during a three year time period (2002-2004). Twenty-one sites on coral reefs in the short term. were selected for the sampling program: three sites inside the MPA and 18 sites in non-protected reefs located in different distance categories, to the northern and southern boundaries of the MPA (0-500, 500-1000, 1000-1500 m). Fish counts will be made by using a stationary visual censuses method and the following habitat characteristics will be measured in each site: reef area, volume, connectivity [measured by the proximity of a given site to nearby reefs and the availability of suitable reef habitat between that site and the marine protected area boundary (the later case applicable only to non-protected reefs)], substrate complexity and benthic organisms cover. Reef connectivity will be calculated by using fi eld measurements and aerial photographs. The present study would help in understanding the role of MPAs and the infl uence of habitat, particularly reef connec- tivity, in the conservation of biodiversity and recovery of fi sh assemblages on coral reefs in the short term. The ISRS/OC 2002 fellowship will allow the acquisition of essential equipment for fi eld data collections and cover part of travel and offi ce expenses. My project is also fi nancially and logistically supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and Conservation International Brazil. I am very thankful for this great support. References 1Maida M, Ferreira BP (1997) Coral reefs of Brazil: an overview. Proc. Int. Coral Reef Symp. 8: 263-274 2Ferreira CEL, Gonçalves JEA (1999) The unique Abrolhos reef formation (Brazil): need for specifi c management strategies. Coral Reefs 18: 352. 3Castro CB, Segal B (2000) The Itacolomis: large and unexplored reefs at the arrival point of the fi rst Europeans in Brazil. Coral Reefs 20: 18 Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 42594, 04299-970, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. E-mail: rofi [email protected]

DESIGNING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS FOR CORAL REEF MANAGEMENT IN AMERICAN SAMOA: LINKING MULTIPLE SCALES OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS It is estimated that 11% of the world’s reefs have already been lost, a further 15% are at a critical state1, and nearly 60% are currently threatened by human activities2. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances are increasing, and a bet-

12 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org ISRS NEWS ter understanding of how these disturbances affect coral reefs is greatly needed. There is address several of these shortcomings need for integrated studies that link ecological processes across multiple and draw explicit connections to coral spatial and temporal scales. Studies building on these linkages will then reef MPA design, function, and local form a solid foundation on which a more holistic and effec- tive approach to management within the archipelago of coral reef management and conservation can be built 3,4. A primary and fun- American Samoa (AS) damental tool in this effort is the use of marine protected areas (MPAs). Although much has been done in MPA management, little has been done to quantify the hierarchical linkages and cumulative effects of environmental stressors with the ecological connec- tivity between protected sites5. The goal of the proposed research is to address several of these shortcomings and draw explicit connections to coral reef MPA design, function, and local management within the archipelago of American Samoa (AS). In particular, the goals are to: 1) Analyze the hierarchical scaling and combinatorial affects of environmental stressors on coral reef community structure in AS, 2) Investigate the ecological connectivity between reef systems within the AS archipelago, 3) Address the infl uence of the arrangement and size of potential marine protected areas with regards to the ecological connectivity and scaling of environmental stressors, 4) Bring the implications from this research to the local marine protected area community as recommendations for use in the decision making process. References 1Wilkinson C (2000) Executive Summary. In Wilkinson C. (ed) Status of coral reefs of the world: 2000. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Cape Ferguson, Queensland, Australia, pp. 7 - 20 2USCRTF (2000) National action plan to conserve coral reefs. United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF). Washington, DC. 3Hatcher BG (1997) Coral reef ecosystems: how much greater is the whole then the sum of the parts? Coral Reefs 16(Suppl).:S77- S91 4Murdoch TJT and Aronson RB (1999) Scale-dependent spatial variability of coral assemblages along the Florida Reef Tract. Coral Reefs 18:341-351 5Mascia MB (2001) Designing effective coral reef marine protected areas, a synthesis report based on presentations at the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium. Bali, Indonesia, October 23-27, 2000. Eric Treml, Landscape Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences Duke University Email

ISRS Library Awards for 2003 While many of us can take access to books and journals for granted, that’s not the case in many places where impor- tant contributions are being made to coral reef studies. In 2002, ISRS came up with a new initiative to recognize these contributions, and to support future efforts in developing countries. Through the generosity of a number of authors and publishers, and a modest contribution of funds from ISRS, we were able to offer ten sets of books and three-year subscrip- tions to Coral Reefs and Reef Encounter. We received twenty-seven applications, and a committee of Council made their choice of ten successful applicants based on criteria of relevance of the applicant’s mission to coral reef studies, the number of people who would make use of the materials, the quality of arrangements for access, and the track record of contributions made by the institution so far. All of the applicants would have made worthy recipients, but due to a limited quantity of books, we had to narrow our selection down to the following institutions. • Phuket Marine Biological Centre, Thailand • Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Jamaica • Marine Biological Station, Zoological Survey of India, Chennai, India • Silliman University Marine Laboratory, Dumaguete City, Philippines • The Institute of Marine and Coastal Research of Colombia –INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Colombia • Institute of Marine Sciences, Zanzibar, Tanzania • CORALINA, Corporation for the sustainable development of the archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence and Santa Catalina, Colombia • Unidad Académica - Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Puerto Morelos, Mexico • University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City, Philippines • University of Asmara, Eritrea Researchers and students in these labs will now be able to refer to the stellar works of John Hooper and Rob van Soest, Katharina Fabricius and Phil Alderslade, and Charlie Veron and Mary Stafford Smith for rich sources of biological

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 13 ISRS NEWS information and as the basis for the identifi cation of sponges, soft corals and hard corals. Ron Karlson’s book provides an excellent ecological framework for researchers trying to understand the ecological world in which these benthic groups operate. The Proceedings from the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium will provide readers access to the diversity of over 200 papers that were presented at Bali, and the subscriptions to Coral Reefs and Reef Encounter will further enhance access to recent papers and issues in coral reef studies. Dave Barnes’ book – a key milestone from the early 1980s, is a convenient connection to earlier literature and to some enduring ideas just waiting to be rediscovered. The Society thanks all these authors, the publishers Springer-Verlag and Kluwer, the Local Organizing Committee of the Bali Symposium, and AIMS, without whose generosity and support, this Award would not have been possible. Thank you all.

Terry Done, Chair, Library Awards Committee, 2003

Corals of the world (3 volumes) Proceedings of the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, By J.E.N. Veron and Mary Stafford-Smith. Bali, Indonesia, 2000 One of the most comprehensive, authoritative and spectacular These Proceedings are provided through the generosity of productions ever given to a group of marine organisms. the Indonesian Ministry of State for the Environment and the Indonesian Institute of Science. Soft Corals and Sea Fans By K. Fabricius and P. Alderslade. A comprehensive guide to the Three-year subscription to Coral Reefs (2003-5 incl.) tropical shallow-water genera of the Central-West Pacifi c, the The publisher Springer-Verlag and the International Society for Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Reef Studies will provide a three-year subscription to the Society's journal Coral Reefs, that appears four times per year. Systema Porifera Edited by John Hooper and Rob van Soest. This book provides a Three-year subscription to Reef Encounters (2003-5 incl.) tool for biologists to document the rich biodiversity of the Porifera, The International Society for Reef Studies will provide a three- and a unifi ed classifi cation for the phylum. year subscription to the Society's twice yearly newsletter Reef Encounter. Dynamics of Coral Communities By Ronald H. Karlson. This book focuses on the dynamical pro- Perspectives on Coral Reefs cesses infl uencing the structure of coral communities, some of By David Barnes (Editor). A 1983 classic containing a series of re- the most biologically diverse communities on earth. views that were important in their time and are still useful today.

14 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org ISRS NEWS

New ISRS logo The ISRS is organizing a competition open to all ISRS members to redesign its logo. The contest commences February 1 and closes on April 30, 2004. The best logo submitted will be selected by an ISRS Council sub-committee and announced in Okinawa at the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium. The prize for the best logo will be 1 year’s free full ISRS membership. Entries should be emailed as attachments (pdf, jpg or tiff fi les, no larger than 500 kb) to Helmut Schuhmacher (h.schuhmacher@ uni-essen.de) or Robert van Woesik (rvw@fi t.edu) by 30 April 2004.

VAUGHAN’S RULER

Thomas Wayland Vaughan was a geologist and coral taxonomist who worked at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC in the early decades of the 20th Century. The Society’s second president, Ian Macintyre, discovered the ruler with ‘Vaughan’ written in ink on the back. He donated it to the Society during his term as President, and it has been passed on to his successors. The plaque is inscribed with their names: David Stoddart (UK 1980-2), Ian Macintyre (US 1983-6), Peter Sale (Australia 1987- 90), Charles Birkeland (US 1990-93), Bernard Salvat (France 1993-5), John Ogden (1996-1998), Terence Done (1996-2002) and Nicholas Polunin (2003-6).

Terry Done (President 1999-2002) holding Vaughan’s Ruler, the symbol of offi ce for Presidents of ISRS.

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 15 NEWS Love On The Rocks - Coral Spawning Takes Two

When it’s springtime, love abounds they pop and form a thick slick. The forts will be useful to marine scientists for most creatures, but not for corals. larvae created fl oat with the current un- for years to come.” Corals prefer a steamy August night. til some environmental trigger makes Only one night each year, they burst them drop to the sea bottom. For more information on Project Reef forth in an underwater reproductive Last year in the Keys for instance, Spawn, to interview researchers or display that rivals most spectacles in divers made note that schools of bar- to locate divers from your area, call nature. racuda and many other predators hov- Jim Hart, executive director, Oceano- Coral spawning was recently dis- ered over the corals during the spawn graphic Expeditions, at +1 (504) covered in the western hemisphere and that other fi sh seemed to lie in wait 488-1573, or contact him via e-mail in 1990 when sport divers observed to consume the eggs. at [email protected] or visit their star corals ‘smoking’ - emitting a milky One of the volunteer divers, Mary website soon at: seascience.com. sperm into the warm Gulf of Mexico Casey, an ABC Network Correspon- waters. Organized teams of volunteers dent, said: “Being able to watch the reef and scientists only began studying the creatures well into the night enabled phenomenon eight years ago. me to see things I have never seen on There are so many questions left a night dive before.” unanswered. That’s what Project Reef In 2001, the August full moon oc- Canada designates Spawn hopes to remedy. Teams of curred early in the month. Scientists volunteers from all over the country felt the water temperature would Coral Conservation are coordinated each year through not be warm enough, nor would the Oceanographic Expeditions, a New gametes be mature. They predicted Area off Orleans agency that pairs divers with a split spawn between August and scientists to help with underwater September. True to predictions, the Georges Bank research. The diver teams spread out spawning was equally split between the over fi ve locations during the spawning two nights in August and September. Last month, the Canadian period, which occurs about a week af- Throughout the Atlantic, Caribbean, Department of Fisheries and ter the eighth full moon of the year: Key and Gulf of Mexico, divers were treated Oceans (DFO) designated a Largo, Walker’s Cay (Bahamas), Cayos to the rare sight of millions of eggs, egg 424 square kilometer area Cochinos (Honduras), Flower Garden bundles, and sperm being released by Banks (off Texas), and Belize. star coral, brain corals, and a variety of of the Northeast Channel They dive primarily at night - taking invertebrates. between Georges Bank and turns sometimes until early morning - Divers helping the Audubon Browns Bank as a no bottom waiting and watching for the corals to Aquarium of the Americas, collected trawling/no gillnetting zone erupt. During the day, they can study egg bundles and planulae (coral to protect extensive stands videos of past spawning and learn larvae) to be grown in the Aquarium about coral reproduction by experi- laboratories. These juvenile corals will of deep sea corals there. enced expedition leaders. help establish reef seeding procedures Hookfi shing is still allowed in The data each team collects is and preserve future reefs. Researchers a limited portion of the area. accessed by researchers at Texas hope the studies will improve the future The area was protected A&M, the Universities of Miami and of coral reefs. If coral spawning can be by the Canadian Department Honduras, the Flower Garden Banks predicted and corals can be induced and Florida Keys National Marine to spawn in captivity, we can reseed of Fisheries and Oceans Sanctuaries, Walker’s Cay and coral damaged reefs with new corals. through the issuance of a researchers. So far, results have The role of volunteers is invalu- Canada Fisheries Act “varia- shown corals are fairly predictable. able. “The value of simultaneous tion order.” DFO seems to Some corals release sperm and coordinated observations by volunteer have negotiated primarily eggs separately from male and female divers can’t be overemphasized,” said colonies. Others produce egg and Jim Hart, an oceanographer who of- with the commercial fi shing sperm within each polyp. The two are ten leads project teams at the Flower industry in making its deci- combined into BB-sized packets that Gardens. “It is the dedication of vol- sion to protection the corals are released wave-after-wave in a unteers that has made this particularly of the area. domino effect. The eggs drift like Alka diffi cult search for information n our Seltzer bubbles to the surface where underwater world possible. Their ef-

16 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org NEWS Gene Shinn Wins 2002 Shoemaker Award for Distinguished Achievement in Communications

The 2002 Shoemaker Award for 1998 for his landmark contributions to You have repeatedly been recognized Distinguished Achievement in the geology of the Earth, its Moon, and by the scientifi c community for your Communications has been awarded to the Solar System, and his enthusiasm work, appeared in the media as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientist in educating the public and inspiring USGS expert in your fi eld, produced Gene Shinn (St. Petersburg, FL). Below young students to enter the science numerous videos and training fi lms is the text of the message in which USGS fi eld. You are the fourth recipient of this for use worldwide, and provided end- Director Chip Groat informed Dr. Shinn award since its inception. less research and studies on an array that he had won the award: I know you are recognized na- of scientifi c topics. You epitomize the “Congratulations, Gene Shinn! You tionally and internationally for your spirit of the Shoemaker Award for have been selected to receive the outstanding career in the field of Distinguished Achievement. 2002 Eugene M. Shoemaker Award carbonate geology, particularly your I join with all employees in com- for Distinguished Achievement in work on the effects of African dust on mending you for your efforts in commu- Communications. This award is given reef ecosystem and organizational nicating USGS science and its impact periodically to honor a U.S. Geological health. But you are known as well on a changing world. Thank you for a Survey (USGS) employee or private for your skills as a communicator in job well done! Formal presentation of citizen who combines outstanding presenting scientifi c results in words this year’s award will be held at the scientifi c ability with great skill in pre- and graphics that captivate audiences annual awards convocation in each senting complex scientifi c concepts to of all types. Your keen sense of audi- regional center in spring 2003.” many different audiences. This lifetime- ence needs is key to effectively com- achievement award honors your stand- municating complex and revolutionary Reprinted from the Soundwaves ing in your professional fi eld and your scientifi c theories to a wide audience, Newsletter (Feb. / Mar. 2003) pro- skill and enthusiasm for conveying sci- ranging from scientifi c to nontechnical viding Coastal Science & Research ence in multiple media. The fi rst winner groups, including Federal agencies, News from Across the USGS (http:// of this award was Gene Shoemaker in private-sector groups, and the media. soundwaves.usgs.gov/)

Damselfi sh Eggs A coral reef fi sh, the spiny damsel- fi sh, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, has huge eggs! The well-developed hatchlings measure over 5 mm and, re- markably, they are guarded for months by both of their parents. This highly unusual life history lacks a dispersive larval stage and consequently strong genetic differences have arisen be- tween separated populations. Kathryn Kavanagh is studying the evolution of this unusual early life history and needs samples of eggs and new hatchlings from populations throughout the Indo- West Pacifi c. If you can help Kathryn, please contact her at kkavanagh@oeb. harvard.edu.

Damselfi sh Eggs

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 17 UPWELLINGS

Comment on the Article ‘Condylactis gigantea – A Giant Comes Under Pressure from the Aquarium Trade in Florida’

A colleague recently sent me an issue of an organism. The Condylactis article individuals do occur, they occur in high Reef Encounter (RE30), and asked me does not clearly state the reasons why density. to comment on the Condylactis article, particular survey areas were chosen As a consequence of this popula- “Condylactis gigantea – A Giant Comes for this study. tion distribution variability, a population Under Pressure from the Aquarium Conclusions drawn by the Condy- survey method that fairly estimates Trade in Florida,” because he could lactis article were based on the authors’ the Condylactis population has been not reconcile the survey numbers with analysis of their survey results, which hard to establish. A better estimate the harvest numbers. I analyzed the were conducted on hard bottom and of stock could be obtained by analyz- article’s information, and have reached reef habitats and compared to commer- ing the landings in terms of overall the following conclusions. cial catch data. The commercial catch increase or decline. However, as the The article states, “Recruitment data cited in their article (11,800,000 Condylactis fi shery is demand-driven of sexually produced planula into per year) versus a transect count (15 (orders by aquarium customers) rather natural populations is probably rare. in a survey length of 250 kilometers) than catch-driven (food fi shery), a com- C. gigantea is a gonochoric (separate suggests that Condylactis populations panion study of the aquarium industry sexed) broadcast spawner, has a 1:1 are in demise. demand for Condylactis would properly sex ratio of males to females, spawns Surveys conducted on reef and assess any changes in catch. at least during the summer, and the hard-bottom areas are not appropriate The authors stated that “appropriate larvae are planktonic . . . There is the to estimate Condylactis populations. sampling can provide fishery-inde- possibility that the distribution patterns Condylactis is found on inshore turtle pendent density and total abundance we observed offer dismal prospects for grass soft-bottom habitats, on the top estimates.” I would have hoped that population recovery . . . ” of grass fl ats in very shallow water the authors had applied this very Central to any unbiased and rep- (almost intertidal). Deeper turtle grass valid statement to their own sampling resentative estimate of a population areas seldom hold Condylactis popu- methods. of organisms, and the conclusions de- lations. In addition, even on shallow rived from it, is a series of survey areas grass fl ats, Condylactis populations are placed in appropriate habitats that fairly very spotty, occurring at one end of a Henry Feddern, PhD, represent the population distribution of grass fl at but not on the other. Where Florida Marine Life Association

18 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org UPWELLINGS Mask, Fins, Camera!! I am no photographer, underwater or tion from skeletal samples can be a lot But useful images can be accomplished otherwise. I don’t have expert knowl- easier with a color image at hand (for with the minimum of training. My own edge regarding the latest camera gear us mortals at least). experience has been with 35 mm un- available, and profess only the usual Anyone who is conducting long-term derwater cameras made by Nikonos, admiration for those who can take monitoring, or has a fi eld experiment in or Sea & Sea. When used with a beautiful pictures. However, I do know place (especially a transplant experi- close-up frame (a mechanical device what an excellent research tool an ment), and who isn’t using any form of that protrudes from the camera), these underwater camera is. Photographic photography is forfeiting a real opportu- complex machines metamorphose into images can be extremely rich in infor- nity. Now this may seem disingenuous, point-and-shoot fun-things. All you mation and, if you haven’t already done as underwater photography and video need to do is read the instructions, and so, their potential for encapsulating are well-documented research tools, maybe fi nd a friend to show you how to data is well worth investigating. but if the research does not neces- grease the O-rings. With the introduc- Although photography as an aide sitate it, then many will just not bother tion of underwater housings for some to research really comes into its own if with the hassle of lugging a camera digital cameras life is even easier – no some sort of time series is established, along with their regular kit. Too often, close-up frames required, no separate a set of images from any day’s under- perfectly decent camera equipment is strobe and cables, and no need to water fi eldwork can still be a great as- left gathering dust while researchers change fi lm while all soggy and wet. set, especially when you are writing-up are preparing for their fi eldwork. But so Not only do images provide us with and trying to remember what happened many unexpected things can happen! memory-jogs or additional data, they on a certain afternoon months previ- I took some pictures at the beginning, can illustrate a fi nding in a truly wonder- ously. What were the conditions like? middle, and end of a transplantation ful and exciting way. And, as coral reef Who was I diving with? Exactly how far experiment, primarily because I was scientists, we are fortunate to have a off the seabed were those sediment interested in the morphometric infor- journal (and a magazine) that provides traps? What did I fi x that baseline to? mation extractable from the images. us the opportunity to disseminate our How big were those coral heads? What My efforts were rewarded, not only with images in their full splendor. This is species were spawning? What was the measurement data, but also with not a plug - I presently have color that strange bubble-like slime? Now, rich fi ndings on changes in pigmenta- photographs of non-reef organisms a photographic record might not make tion, variation in tissue loss and mortal- that I wished I had a similar outlet for. up for poor note taking (or storing!), ity, and differential levels of budding. So, if you are about to conduct some and it helps if you have something of Other researchers have successfully coral reef fi eldwork seriously consider known size included in your shots, but recorded coral growth, colony morphol- investing in an underwater camera or such information can be tremendously ogy, lesion regeneration, feeding activ- housing. And if you have one stuffed on helpful if you have nothing else to go on ity, polyp bailout, sweeper tentacles in a shelf somewhere, take it down, dust other than your dive-addled memory. action, the list goes on . . . it off, and pop it in your dive bag. Don’t forget that, when identifying tricky Some people might feel that un- corals, although a photograph may be derwater photography is some kind of Peter Todd,School of Life Sciences, of limited use without an accompanying black art, and rightly so - if you want Napier University, 10 Colinton Road, piece of cleaned skeleton; classifi ca- your pictures in National Geographic. Edinburgh EH10 5DT

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 19 OBITUARY R.E. (Bob) Johannes (1936 - 2002)

I fi rst met Bob in 1977 drinking beer studies at the time were on small, site- a meal of octopus and had his hand on the lawn in front of the Ratskeller specifi c species. The fi shers in Palau fi rmly stuck in the mouth of a moray at the University of Miami during knew about the aggregations and Bob eel. He then continued to work with a the 3rd International Coral Reef was able to confi rm these via direct shredded hand. Symposium. Bob and other heroes observations. I recommend that you Many people around the world like like Len Muscatine and David Stoddart read ‘Words of the Lagoon’ published me regarded Bob as a very good friend, were happy to talk about science to a in 19811. somebody who was always willing to recent PhD graduate who had just cited Bob tried to move on from ethnobi- listen and assist. He was a real hero of their names in a thesis. That started a ology, but this fi eld developed rapidly, the coral reef world and to reef peoples, 25 year friendship in science, a love especially as a valuable tool to as- especially those in the Pacifi c, whose of bushwalking, trout fi shing and life; sist management through the use of lives are enmeshed in reef resources that for Bob ended on Wednesday, 4 Traditional Ecological Knowledge and and are asking for assistance in their September 2002. Management systems (TEKMS). He management. It is up to the rest of us He was known for starting many was regularly invited to conferences as to continue this work – a job made fi elds in our coral reef science. Since the keynote speaker in this discipline. harder without one of the truly great his nurturing, many of these fields He also became a leader in creating a personalities of our coral reef world. have gone on to develop further, as sustainable reef food-fi sh trade in the Thanks Bob – we will miss you. he moved onto the next area that inter- Pacifi c by working with local fi shermen ested him. His interests were wide as and businessmen in Hong Kong. Clive Wilkinson he read voraciously across disciplines. Bob was frustrated at the reluctance 1 Many of Bob’s papers are fi rst cited of scientists to promote the necessary Johannes RE (1981). Words of the Lagoon: Fishing and Marine Lore e.g. nutrient transfer and exchange urgent management action until they in the Palau District of Micronesia. across reefs and corals (remember had suffi cient data. I also suggest that University of California Press, 320pp. the Eniwetok experiments), the role you read the case for data-less man- 2Johannes RE (1998). The case for data- of zooplankton on reefs etc. He was agement – which is another way of ex- less marine resource management: probably one of the first microbial pressing the precautionary principle2. example from tropical nearshore ecologists to work on reefs. These are Bob was particularly calm in a crisis fi nfi sheries. Trends in Ecology and just two examples of his many areas and the master of understatement. One Evolution 13: 243-246. of expertise. anecdote concerns Bob was never afraid to attempt shifting a piano up- something different. He was criticised stairs; his compan- by the science establishment as ‘going ions paused and troppo’ when he packed up his wife put it down, then Chris and infant son Greg and lived for Bob quietly asked a year in a fi shing village in Palau. Bob could they please gained the confi dence of the local fi sh- lift it off his foot. ers through his patience, knowledge Another occurred and the fact that he was a competent during experiments fi sherman and could hold his own with to assess nutrient them in spear fi shing competitions. The exchange across scientifi c community gained an order of the flats of the magnitude leap in knowledge of coral Abrolhos reefs in reef fi shes and he spawned two very Western Australia. popular themes of current coral reef I looked over to see inquiry – ethnobiology and the study Bob bent double and conservation of mass spawn- in water up to his ing aggregations of coral reef fi shes. knees with one When he fi rst proposed that many of hand under water. the larger target species of fi shes (ser- He quietly called ranids, lutjanids etc.) would assemble “Steve (S.V. Smith) in thousands on specifi c days around – I think I have a the new moon to spawn, many fi sher- problem.” Bob had ies biologists disbelieved him because been searching for

20 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org OBITUARY Terry Scoffi n (1941–2002)

Terry Scoffi n died on 23rd November a 5-month Royal Society expedition his research career for work on the 2002, age 61, after a fi ght against can- in 1973 and on fi ve subsequent oc- effects of algal mats on sediment trap- cer. With his passing, the International casions, to the Cook Islands in the ping and binding, and the second, in Society for Reef Studies has lost one central Pacifi c, to Thailand, Indonesia, 1992, for his insightful review of the of its founding members, the Journal the Maldives, Barbados, Bermuda, St taphonomy of coral reefs in the journal Coral Reefs has lost one of its most Vincent, Jamaica, and Papua New Coral Reefs. He was elected a Fellow dedicated reviewers and editors, and Guinea. This resulted in 80 research of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and reef science has lost one of the most papers, including fi rst authored works held visiting Professorships in Calgary, innovative reef geologists of our times. in the journals Science and Nature, Bergen, and University of the West For many reef scientists around the and an undergraduate level textbook Indies. He was promoted to Reader at world, it also means the loss of Edinburgh University in 1982. a great friend and colleague. The bare factual summary of Terry was born in Selby, some of Terry’s achievements England, on 6th January 1941. only goes part-way to convey- After a sport-filled youth, he ing the essence of what made went to Swansea in 1959 to him so special as a reef scien- study for his BSc in geology. tist. Terry was always hugely His long career of reef re- enthusiastic, energetic and search started when he stayed creative. He particularly enjoyed on at Swansea for his PhD, fi eldwork, and it was perhaps in investigating the Silurian reefs this sphere that he excelled the of the Much Wenlock lime- most. He possessed a tremen- stone in England. He moved dous gift for using fi eld observa- to Liverpool in 1965 on a post- tions to identify key processes doctoral fellowship, where he that mould the development and started his investigations of growth of corals and coral reefs. modern carbonate sediments Once Terry pointed these con- in the Bahamas, focussing on nections out to you in the fi eld, observing and quantifying or- it was ‘obvious’ . . . why hadn’t ganism-sediment relationships. we thought of that before? The It was around this time that he answer lay in Terry’s creative got his nickname, “Black Dog,” and lateral-thinking approach after the character in Robert that allowed him to quickly see Louis Stevenson’s Treasure what mattered. Examples of this Island . . . apt because of his talent are evident in his work love of adventurous expedi- on the nature and signifi cance tions to tropical islands, rather of coral microatolls, his work than because of any striking on the signifi cance of marine similarity to the character in vegetation for determining sedi- the book! ment transport and accumula- In 1967 he accepted a Lectureship in on carbonate sediments and rocks. He tion, his contribution to the seminal the Geology Department of Edinburgh was supervisor to 17 PhD students, as carbonate budget studies conducted University in Scotland where he re- well as playing a very active role in the on reefs in Barbados, and the insights mained until his (early) retirement in teaching, fi eldwork and social life of the that he summarised in his review on 1995. At Edinburgh he continued his Department of Geology at Edinburgh. the taphonomy of coral reefs. study of ancient limestones in Europe, As a founding member of ISRS, he was Terry’s creativity didn’t stop at visual but most of his research became di- on the Council from 1981 to 1986, and observation. He was always thinking rected towards the study of modern he was an Advisory Editor for Coral about new ways to collect samples, carbonate environments, predomi- Reefs until 1992. take photographs, make films, or nately modern coral reefs, but including Terry’s academic achievements conduct experiments in the fi eld. For deep water corals and temperate car- were recognised through his winning example, he designed and built an bonates in the N. Atlantic. His research of two best-paper-of-the-year-awards, underwater fl ume, made a fi lm about took him to the Great Barrier Reef on the fi rst, in 1970, towards the start of the reefs and geology of Barbados, and

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 21 OBITUARY used underwater pneumatic drills and drifting off into the central Pacifi c, or and composing), writing short stories, saws - all in the late1960s and early you’d just found a live scorpion in your photography, playing a wide range of 1970s. Later on, he developed the use bed . . . it was then that you really ap- sports (many of which he excelled in), of kites and helium balloons for aerial preciated having Terry with you . . . with creating a series of cartoons (about a surveys of reefs . . . extremely effective his ability to see the funny side of the man shipwrecked on a desert island), as well as fun to use . . . and designed situation and to make some typically re-building an old barn in the south of devices for sampling and experimenta- quick-witted quip to ease the tension. France, and organising elaborate so- tion from manned submersibles. First he’d make the joke, then he’d cial events. But above all, Terry always Another essential aspect of Terry bend his back to get the job done or made time for his family and friends. was his great sense of humour and the problem solved. He is survived by his son, Patrick, and incorrigible laugh; few people can tell Terry has left us with a very sig- by his partner, Pauline. a story or a joke quite like Terry could. nificant legacy of progress in reef This humour became invaluable to his science, and in particular, in the con- Sandy Tudhope colleagues in the fi eld. When things nections between geology and active School of GeoSciences, Grant Insti- were going badly wrong . . . it was processes on reefs. He achieved all tute, Edinburgh University, West Mains excruciatingly hot, the rats had broken this whilst maintaining an extremely Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, Scotland, into your only food supply, the outboard active and broad range of ‘outside’ in- U.K. Email

Editor: Terry contributed many cartoons to Reef Encounter over the years under the name of Black Dog and we have reprinted one here.

22 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS

A preliminary assessment of the coral reefs of Europa (Mozambique channel) Europa (22°21’S-40°21’E), a small (30 km2), French coralline island, is located in the southern Mozambique Channel, 300 km west of Madagascar. It is one of the few remote coral reef locations remaining unaffected by humans in the Western Indian Ocean region. The wa- ters surrounding the island are known to support coral communities, but the biodiversity and species richness of these reefs has never been surveyed and studied in any detail. Europa (also known as Iles Éparses Figure 1. Aerial view of Europa (30 km2 Françaises) and the islands of Juan de Nova, Glorieuses, Bassas da India and from 0 to 30 m. Snorkeling and scuba The lagoon is very shallow (<1 m Tromelin were declared an environ- diving were used to describe habitats deep) with no signifi cant connection mentally protected area by the French and to assess the reef diversity, with to the open ocean during low tides government in 1975 (Reef Encounter one permanent monitoring transect (tidal range is up to 4 m), yet it sup- 26: 33–36) due to their great impor- (PMT) having been installed at Anse ports numerous habitats. Coral com- tance for turtle and seabird breeding. Gabriel. munities are present, but there was Since this declaration, there have been evidence of recent mass mortality, no permanent residents on Europa Marine Habitats especially in Acropora spp and Fungia other than French meteorological and spp where the majority were found to military personnel. The island itself is the emergent part be dead. This high mortality may have Early last year (15–19th April 2002), of a fossil atoll and is only 6-7m above been due to the 1998 coral bleaching observations and reef surveys were actual sea level at its highest point. conducted from the Quiksilver-spon- The older, eroded karst structure sored vessel, Indies Trader, as part of of this emergent atoll can be easily the Reef Check monitoring program. seen on the coast of the island where Considering the geographical position The two marine biologists who partici- the shore is formed by a fossil ridge of Europa, it may have been one of the pated in the monitoring program were indicative of higher sea levels during fi rst coral systems affected by warm from the Agence pour la Recherche et the Pleistocene. Five sandy beaches waters in the region. la VAlorisation Marines (ARVAM) and can be found around the island, all represented the Global Coral Reef of which are important turtle nesting Monitoring Network (GCRMN) and sites. These beaches are particularly event which was reported to have af- Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian important given that Europa is one of fected other reefs in the Mozambique Ocean (CORDIO) network. The objec- the most important breeding sites in Channel. Porites spp was the most tives of this study were to: the world for the green turtle, Chelonia abundant of corals encountered in the • Map the shallow marine habitats, mydas, with 8,000 to 15,000 nests lagoon. Seagrass beds, while reported • Establish a permanent system for per year. in literature, are not well developed the long term monitoring of inver- The intertidal zone is a reef flat (composed of three species, Thalassia tebrates (including corals) and fi sh that maintains low coral cover and is sp, Halodule universis, Halophila ovalis) communities, dominated by algal turf, most of which and are not suspected to feed the • Undertake the fi rst inventory of cor- is composed of cyanobacteria (Lyngbia resident turtle population. Mangroves als and fi sh, and assess the diver- spp.). A fringing reef occurring along are found in the channels of the lagoon sity; and the north coast (Figure 1) was found to and are regularly inundated through • Identify natural and human threats, have the highest species richness and karstic holes connected directly to the especially evidence and incidence diversity of hard corals. At this same ocean. of coral bleaching. reef, signifi cant coral recruitment was The outer reef slopes have good Surveys were performed in the also observed with numerous 5-15 cm live coral cover nearest to the crest. lagoon, on the fringing reef and on the Acropora colonies, suggesting a coral The width of the slope is usually very outer slopes, constituting a depth profi le settlement of 3-4 years ago. narrow reaching a maximum depth of

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 23 CURRENTS

6-7m before becoming a vertical drop. purpose, a temperature There is one exception on the north data logger was installed side of the island where a 12 m plateau at the PMT. occurs, dominated by Millepora colo- nies. The detailed results of the Reef Assessment of Check survey (not included in the pres- Marine Diversity ent document) have been sent to the coordination unit for incorporation into During this survey, specifi c the world report (see Bookshelf). Data attention was given to the will also be entered into the COREMO fi sh and hard coral commu- (ARMDES adapted) database and nities at 14 stations, from will contribute to the regional GCRMN the surface to 30 m depth. status report. According to the GCRMN The survey identified 33 protocol, live coral cover (hard and soft hard coral species (22 on Figure 2. Evidence of the recent mass recruitment of branch- species) at the PMT was estimated at the outer slopes and 17 in ing corals on the fringing reef. 58% (36% for hard coral and 22% for the lagoon) and 150 fi sh soft coral). species. Soft corals, algae the exploration of the shoreline, nor Mapping the shallow marine bio- and other benthic species were not has this been noticed in the past by topes of Europa is one of the goals of assessed. Signifi cant development of military personnel stationed there. Fish the programme and the biotope map soft coral was, however, observed on poaching is not known in these waters (Figure 1) will be regularly updated the majority of the outer slopes that and fi sh communities were considered with information from aerial photos and were surveyed. to be pristine, with numerous carnivo- future ground truthing. Fish fauna is benefi ting from 25 rous species (e.g. groupers, snappers, Coral Bleaching years of conservation as Europa is a jacks) present. Crown-of-horn starfi sh Réserve Naturelle (since 1975), with may also be seriously affecting the Recent coral bleaching was not ob- an amazing abundance of carnivorous corals with a signifi cant aggregation served, but algal cover on dead coral species (e.g. groupers such as Variola (more than 130 individuals) observed colonies was signifi cant in both lagoon louti and Epinephelus tukula and snap- at the PMT site. and outer slopes. This suggests that per such as Lutjanus bohar). Islands such as Europa are par- Europa, similar to those observations Samples of coral, algae, plankton ticularly vulnerable to human pressure made in East Africa, Madagascar, and shells were collected for future and global threats, and it is therefore Mayotte, Comoros identifi cation. This of great importance to have a better and Seychelles, included the collec- understanding on the patterns of re- was affected by one of the few reefs which remain tion of potentially cruitment, resistance and resilience of the 1998 coral unaffected by humans in the harmful dinofla- these remote coral ecosystems. bleaching event Western Indian Ocean gellates that were and subsequent isolated from algal The Future mortality resulted. turfs for further cul- Considering the geographical position ture in Réunion, as part of AlgoBank A Shallow Marine Ecosystem of Europa, it may have been one of the project. Programme has been set up this year fi rst coral systems affected by warm The general information collected on to highlight these scattered, remote waters in the region. The coral appears Europa’s marine ecosystems, coral and islands of the Mozambique Channel. to have been most affected on the up- fi sh species richness and diversity will This strategy is promoted by France per part of the outer slope and in some be used as a baseline for further stud- under the umbrella of IFRECOR and sites of the lagoon (a great number of ies as part of the IFRECOR (French represents an important contribution dead Fungia spp. and large stands of coral reef initiative) action plan. to networks such as Reef Check, dead Acropora cf muricata). Recovery GCRMN and CORDIO. From 2002 (3-4 year old colonies) appears to have Threats to 2006, monitoring and research been slow and suggests that, as a activities will be developed at Europa, source and/or sink, Europa is sub-opti- Coral bleaching and related mortality Juan de Nova, Bassas da India and mal when compared to Mayotte, where is clearly a major threat to the reefs of Glorieuses (Tromelin, which is located coral cover is actively increasing. Europa. However, other threats are in the “open” ocean side, will not be Europa may be considered a stra- minimal as there appears to be no monitored). tegic location for a coral beaching harmful human use of Europa’s marine These unique islands are invalu- alert system for the Indian Ocean as resources. There were no indications able and integral components of the part of the CORDIO network. For this of oil spills or contamination during marine ecosystems in the Western

24 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS

Figure 3. Map of Europa.

Indian Ocean, and their conserva- workshop held in Hanoi, Vietnam. As grammes on these remote islands of tion value needs to be recognised at with this and other opportunities that the Mozambique Channel. both the regional and international recognise conservation value and Jean-Pascal Quod and Rémi Garnier level. This island will be proposed as imporatance, these should include ARVAM, 14, rue du stade de l’Est, a UNESCO World Heritage and/or both terrestrial and marine biodiversity 97490, Sainte Clotilde, Ramsar Convention site in the near and endangered species. To achieve France Réunion future. This proposal for World Heritage these goals in the region, there is an Email [email protected] or sit status was made at last year’s urgent need to strengthen marine pro- [email protected]

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 25 CURRENTS

Acanthaster planci on La Réunion Reefs (Western Indian Ocean)

Acanthaster planci, the crown-of-thorns In each of the zones, the number 2. Characteristics of the Acanthaster starfi sh, is the subject of numerous of Acanthaster observations and distribution: The distribution of the studies and extensive debate in the the density were evaluated per 30 Acanthaster according to the type of tropical Indo-Pacifi c1,2,3,4. It is present minutes. It appears that most obser- environment was observed (Figure on the fringing reefs of La Réunion, but vations are located on the western 2). Acanthaster was primarily found coast, and specifi cally zones 2 to 5 on coral reef substrates, but had and 12 to 14 Acanthaster have been also been noted to be present on the general occurrence of observed regularly. The variations of rocky substrates. The difference in Acanthaster on La Réunion reefs has density observed from 1998 to 2000 distribution of Acanthaster between declined since 2000 show that there is a slight decline the reef habitats is very clear with in these zones. The overall density, 83% found on the outer slope and has never been the subject of a census except in zone 3 rarely exceeds 4 17% on the reef fl ats (although a there. Following observations by divers individuals per 30 minutes. bias could come from the unrecord- and a survey of several diving clubs on the damage to coral by the individuals encountered, a study was undertaken in 1998 by the Ecomar Laboratory (Université de La Réunion). A survey form was prepared and distributed to both volunteers and individuals involved in the local marine environ- ment (i.e. Marine Park Association, diving clubs, students and scientists). The form asked the surveyor to note general observations (date, hour, site, depth, type of environment), whether the observations were made via a scuba diving or snorkeling, the dura- tion of the observation and precise data on the number and diameter of the Acanthaster observed. Among the 352 forms returned from 1998 to the end of 2000, 130 re- ported Acanthaster. However, several observers only fi lled in the form when the starfi sh was present, resulting in an over estimation of the presence of crown-of-thorns starfi sh. From the observations collected, data have been analyzed to illustrate: 1) the distribution of Acanthaster on the different reef complexes and the population densities; 2) the distribution of Acanthaster with the depth, type of environment and night/day presence; and 3) the size structure of the popu- lations. 1. Distribution of Acanthaster on the different reef complexes and the population density: La Réunion island has reefs located on the west- ern coast (Figure 1) where the zones of study were demarcated (1 to 24). Figure 1 La Réunion and the 24 zones of the study

26 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS

sities and popula- 2Moran PJ (1990) Acanthaster planci: tions that were bibliographical data. Coral Reefs 9: mostly composed 95-96 3 of large individu- Conand C (1985) Distribution, reproductive cycle and morphometric als (35-45 cm di- relationships of Acanthaster planci ameter). Although (Echinodermata : Asteroidea) in New the reefs suffered Caledonia, western tropical Pacifi c. In from the bleach- : Echinodermata, Proceedings of the ing event6,7 of Fifth International Conference 1985, 1998, no increase pp. 499 506 in the population, 4Benzie JAH (1999) Major genetic nor occurrence differences between crown-of- of juveniles, has thorns starfi sh (Acanthaster planci) Figure 2 Occurrence of Acanthaster according to the habitats (% dives). populations in the Indian and Pacifi c been observed. ed absence of Acanthaster during Ocean. Evolution 53(6): 1782-1795 Nevertheless, the 5Moran PJ (1990) Acanthaster planci: snorkel observations). Most of the general occurrence of Acanthaster on bibliographical data. Coral Reefs 9: Acanthaster are found around 6 La Réunion reefs has declined since 95-96 meters and were very rarely deeper 2000. 6Conand C, Larue M, Quod JP, Conand F, then 20 meters. The night versus Further work is being undertaken Turquet J (2002) Le blanchissement day observations revealed there on the genetics of the species8, with des coraux dans l’Ocean Indien: was no difference in the percent- work still in progress on the variation in exemple de la Réunion. Journal de la age of dives where Acanthaster had mtDNA derived from RFLP (Restriction Nature, 14(1): 43-49 7Conand C, Larue M, Quod JP, Conand been observed (36%). Fragment Length Polymorphism) 3. Size structure of the populations: F, Turquet J (in press) Bleaching in analysis of fi ve samples of A. planci a Western Indian Ocean island, La Figure 3 shows the size distribution from La Reunion. This work has Reunion : a multi-scale approach. 9th of Acanthaster, both on reef flat shown that these genotypes cluster Int. Coral Reef Symp. Bali, Indonesia, and outer slope, as percentages closely with those from South Africa October 2000 of the overall observations in these and Mauritius in a “Southern Indian 8Benzie JAH (1999) Major genetic habitats. For both habitats, the dis- Ocean group”. This group is distinct differences between crown-of- tribution is roughly the same. The from a “Northern Indian Ocean group” thorns starfi sh (Acanthaster planci) average size is large at 40 cm, with composed of samples from Thailand populations in the Indian and Pacifi c Ocean. Evolution 53(6): 1782-1795 individuals under 30 cm very rare. and the Maldives, and more distantly 9Benzie JAH Personal Communication These results show that the popu- from the Red Sea. All the Indian Ocean lations observed are not outbreaks animals form a distinct group relative J Emeras, M-P Falquet and that the individuals are mostly to those of Pacifi c Ocean or Southeast and C. Conand 5 adults . Asian origin9. Laboratoire d’Ecologie Marine, In conclusion, this was the first Université de La Reunion, study to describe the main character- References 97 715 Saint Denis istics of Acanthaster in La Réunion, 1Moran PJ (1986) The Acanthaster where the starfi sh was found to be phenomenon. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 24: present in many sites, but with low den- 379-480

Figure 3 Size distribution of Acanthaster on the reef fl ats and outer slopes of La Réunion.

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 27 CURRENTS Species Composition And Distribution 356 species of scleractinians Of The Scleractinia Of Vietnam are known for Vietnam

To date, little information has been De Lanessan. In this paper, Serene known Russian naturalist Dawydoff2. available on the coral reefs of Vietnam. mentioned 64 species of scleractin- This list included about 230 species of The fi rst record of Vietnamese scler- ians belonging to 33 genera. A more scleractinians belonging to 51 genera actinians appeared in 1937 in a paper comprehensive list of scleractinians, (though 5 to 12 species are considered by Serene1 which was devoted to the mainly of Southern Vietnam, was synonyms of each other). results of his expedition aboard the presented 15 years later by the well- Since 1980, regular expeditions to survey and study Vietnamese coral reefs have been carried out through the collaborative efforts of The Institute of Marine Biology (Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences), the Institute of Oceanography (Nha Trang) and The Haiphong Institute of Oceanology (Haiphong). Altogether, ten marine and land-based expeditions from the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin to the South Kon Dao Islands, including the reefs of the Bay of Thailand, have been undertaken, amounting to studies of 56 reefs in 11 different areas (Figure 1). Descriptions of the reefs themselves and the analysis of coral distri- bution and some associ- ated plants and animals in certain areas have been presented in several papers elsewhere3,4,5,6,7. At present, 356 species of scleractinians, belonging to 71 genera, are known to be found in Vietnam. Of these 356 species, 111 spe- cies and 23 genera were previously unknown for this region, while ten species of fi ve genera appeared as new ones. The majority of species are represented by five genera, Acropora (59 species), Montipora (26), Porites (17), Favia (13), and Figure 1. Location of study areas. -1-Baitylong Archipelago, 2-Island Ze, 3-Cape of Danang and Island Thyam, Fungia (12), which is a simi- 4-Island He, 5-Phuknan Province, 6-Island Tchu, 7-Katuik Islands, 8-Kondao Islands, 9-Island Tchotyu, 10-An- lar composition to that found tchoy Islands, 11-Namsu Islands. on most Indo-West-Pacifi c

28 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS reefs. These five genera represent similar compositions of coral commu- fauna of Vietnam is comprised of 356 as much as 35% of the entire species nities. Representatives of the genera species (70 genera) and should also be composition of Vietnamese scleractin- Palauastrea and Caulastrea have yet considered as part of this fertile center. ians and one third of the total species The Malayan-Polynesian nature of are found in 75% of the habitats. Vietnamese coral fauna is corrobo- Two thirds of the scleractinians are species diversity of scleractians rated by a high degree of similarity distributed in more than half of the on Vietnamese reefs is one of the greatest between the latter and the fauna areas, and only about 15% of the throughout the Indo-West-Pacifi c of other regions. The Vietnamese species are rare and are found in fauna has 75% species common one or two areas. Almost the same with Thailand, 77% species com- ratios in the distributional structure to be found in both bays, along with mon with Indonesia, and 71% species of species composition of scleractin- Acropora palifera, a species typically common with the Philippines. Among ians have been observed in the reefs found on most reefs. The corals of the Vietnamese scleractinians, 77% of the of Japan, Indonesia, and the Great genera Plerogyra and Physogyra are species are common with Japanese Barrier Reef8,9. not found in Gulf of Tonkin, while the fauna and 85% are common with Homogenous conditions for reefs genera Pachyseris, Micedium, and Australian fauna, illustrating the unifor- occur along the entire Vietnamese Pectinia have not been found (to date) mity of the coral fauna in the Western coast leading to the creation of a uni- in the innermost and coastal parts of and Southwestern Pacifi c. form species composition of reef-build- the Bay of Thailand. However, some On the whole, the Vietnamese ing corals in the region. Varying little species of the three latter genera and scleractinian species complex, as well in their species abundance, the reefs the rare Physogyra and Plerogyra as those alcyonarians and gorgonar- of all areas have no less than 60% of are known on Hai Nan and Tho Chu ians, belongs to tropical fauna because species in common. The homogene- Islands and in the open parts of both it comprises almost all species that ity of Vietnamese coral fauna can be bays. A wide distribution of massive are characteristic of the equatorial further illustrated as there were no colonies of Porites genus, which form zone of reef development in the Indo- distinct groupings of species, genera, not only vast monospecifi c settlements, West-Pacifi c. Within this region, about or other taxa of scleractinians found, but also communities with high species 90% of the species diversity of Pacifi c and they were not clearly geographi- diversity (no less than 10 species), is scleractinians are already found and cally restricted in range, nor did they characteristic of both bays. Conversely, the species diversity of alcyonarians on show any other signifi cant features representatives of Pocillopora genus, Vietnamese reefs is one of the great- in their distribution. Even in the Gulf usually common on most Indo-West- est throughout the Indo-West-Pacifi c14. of Tonkin, distinguished for its rather Pacifi c reefs (5-7 species), are rare in The entire coast of Vietnam from the extreme conditions for coral growth, the Bay of Thailand and Gulf of Tonkin Bay of Thailand to Tonkin Bay repre- more than one third of the entire spe- (no more than 2 species), whereas they sents a biogeographical unit, which is cies composition of Pacifi c coral fauna are common on the reefs of islands in incorporated into the Indo-Polynesian occur, while 28% of these species are the open parts of bays (Tho Chu and Province of the Indo-Pacifi c Region. known from almost all reefs of the Hai Nan Islands). On the whole, spe- tropical Indo-West-Pacifi c. Only some cies compositions of scleractinians References restructuring of the community oc- of Gulf of Tonkin Bay and the Bay of 1Serene R (1937) Inventaires des curs here. The species with massive, Thailand, comprising 72% of common invertebrates marine de 1’Indochine. encrusting, and funnel form colonies species, are comparable in both quan- Inst. Oceanogr. Indochine, 30:3-83 2 (Porites lobata, Goniopora stokesi, titative and qualitative respects. Dawydoff (1952) 3Latypov YuYa (1986) Coral communities Echinopora lamellosa, Turbinaria pel- However, according to the most of the Nam Du Islands (Gulf of Siam, recent information, the most compre- tata, and Pachyseris rugosa) are more South China Sea). Ecol Progr Ser 29: widely distributed, whereas in typical hensively studied reefs of Indonesia, 261-270 Indo-West-Pacifi c reefs they settle in the Philippines, and the Great Barrier 4Latypov YuYa (1987) Scleractinian the depths exceeding 20 m, where the Reef have no less than 350 species of corals of South Vietnam. Biol morya intensity of illumination is decreased. reef-building scleractinians belonging 5: 12-19 Specific hydrological conditions to 70 genera10,11,12. This region of the 5Latypov YuYa (1990) Scleractinian influence the development of coral Southwestern Pacifi c is considered a Corals of Vietnam (Tamnasteriidae, composition in Gulf of Tonkin and the faunistic center of the origin of tropical Astroceniidae, Pocilloporidae, and Dendrophylliidae) (in Russian). Bay of Thailand. The shallow nature corals where the greatest species di- Nauka, Moscow of both bays, the great eutrophica- versity of scleractinians is found in the 6Latypov YuYa (1999) Benthic 13 tion and turbidity of water, and the so-called “fertile triangle” with vertices communities of coral reefs of Tho Chu prevalence of clay deposits create at the Philippines, Malacca Peninsula, Island (Gulf of Siam, South China similar conditions for reefs and thus and New Guinea. The scleractinian Sea). Biol Moray 3: 234-241

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 29 CURRENTS

7Latypov YuYa (2001) Coral communities 10Best MB, Hoeksema BW, Moka W, et 13Eckman S (1953) Zoogeography of the of reefs of central Vietnam. Biol Morya al. (1989) Recent scleractinian coral Sea. Sidgwick and Jackson, London 27(4): 238-241 species collected during the Snellius- 14Malyutin AN, Latypov YuYa 8Best MB, Hoeksema BW, Moka W, II expedition in eastern Indonesia. (1991) Distribution of corals and et al. (1989) Recent scleractinian Neth J Sea Res 23(2): 107-115. biogeographic zonation of the shelf of coral species collected during the 11Veron JEN, Hodgson G (1989) Vietnam. Biol Moray 4: 26-35 Snellius-II expedition in eastern Annotated checklist of the hermatypic Indonesia. Neth J Sea Res 23(2): corals of the Philippines. Pacifi c Sci 107-115 43: 234-287 9Veron JEN, Hodgson G (1989) 12Veron JEN (1995) Corals in space and Yu. Ya. Latypov, Institute of Marine Annotated checklist of the hermatypic time: biogeography and evolution of Biology, Far East Branch, Russian corals of the Philippines. Pacifi c Sci the Scleractinia. University of New Academy of Science, Vladivostok, 43: 234-287 South Wales Press 690041 Russia Email [email protected]

Archipiélago Jardines De La Reina, Cuba Thirty years later, species richness of scleractinian corals remains high

Three decades ago, Cuban reefs on their condition and the presence of ber for deep sites was 25.1, which were found to be a biodiversity “hot recruits and dead corals. represented 61.3% of all taxa. Both spot” for scleractinian corals in the The new information was compared indices demonstrate high coral species Atlantic region1, making them an ideal with that obtained in the earlier study richness for their respective zones of candidate for the study of long-term in seven sites of the Archipiélago Western Atlantic reefs. changes in coral species richness, Jardines de la Reina area. These sites All coral taxa present 30 years especially in light of present-day reef consisted of stations 69, Cayo Bretón ago were observed during the August degradation. An Atlantic and Gulf (3.0-5.0 m); 70, Cayo Bretón (0.5-1.5 2001 expedition at one or more sites. Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) m); 71, Cayo Bretón (30.0-50.0 m); In addition, four more species were expedition in August 2001 provided an 67, Cayo Grande (4.5-7.0 m); 68, identifi ed. These new species included opportunity to re-survey Scleractinia Cayo Grande (20.0 m); 66, Canal de Dendrogyra cylindrus, which was found in the Archipiélago Jardines de la Caballones (3.5-5.0 m) and 65, Cayo in seven of the deep sites, often with Reina in southeastern Cuba. This note Cachiboca (18.0-23.0 m). These sta- more than one colony. This species compares the observations from the tions do not coincide exactly with the was not identifi ed in southeastern Cuba recent expedition with the information sites examined in August 2001, but are in the earlier study. In addition, several obtained in the same area thirty years interspersed amongst them (Figure colonies of Solenastrea bournoni were ago. Data on Scleractinia in this area 1). In contrast to this survey, the coral found in the two most eastern sites of Cuba were collected in 1971 by V. identifi cation performed in the earlier (sites 50 and 51). In the previous sur- Zlatarski, and were published in detail study was conducted in the laboratory vey, this species had been reported in in 1980 (in Russian) and in 1982 (in on collected coral samples. These Cuba only in the Golfo de Batabanó French)1. A full report of the results specimens remain on deposit in the and the Golfo de Guacanayabo. of the AGRRA expedition may be ob- Biological Collection of the Instituto de Colpophyllia natans, a species not tained separately2. Oceanología in Havana. frequently observed in southern Cuba The underwater observations in the 30 years ago, was identifi ed in 16 sites. present study were obtained (August Species richness Finally, Acropora prolifera was found in 21-28) at 24 AGRRA sites (Figure 1). one site. This rare and questionable Eight of these sites were shallow (0.5- Forty-one taxa of specifi c and intra- species was identifi ed three decades 5.0 m) and included the reef crest, rear subspecific categories were identi- ago in Cuban waters in only one site, zone and reef front zones. The remain- fied. In three cases, identification in south western Cuba. ing 16 sites were deep (5.0-23.0 m) was not possible past the species The presence of Tubastraea coc- and in the fore-reef zone, representing level (Montastraea annularis f. in- cinea was not confi rmed in the study reef terrace, fore-reef escarpment and det., Scolymia lacera complex and area. This species is considered to coral heads. The objectives were to Mycetophyllia lamarckiana f. indet.). have been introduced to the Caribbean identify all present Scleractinia, with- The average number of taxa for shal- in the late 1930s or early 1940s from out limitation on corallum or skeletal low sites was 15.1, which represented the Indo-Pacific on a ship’s hull3. size, as well as to make observations 36.9% of all taxa. The average num- From Curaçao it spread westward

30 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS to Panama (1972), and northward to Coral diseases and epizoism in the earlier survey), low incidences Jamaica (1955). In 1972 it was found of active coral diseases were regis- in southeastern Cuba in the area of During the 1971 survey, some inci- tered. White-band disease was found Santiago de Cuba1. Porites colonen- dences of abnormalities — the ap- on Acropora cervicornis (one case in 4 sis was also not observed, and has pearance of colonies as hyperplasms , four sites and two cases in a fi fth site). partial discoloration and damselfi sh not been reported in Cuban waters Black-band disease was established chimneys—were observed, but not the to date. on Montastraea annularis f. faveolata The small increase between 1971 existence of epizoism. Coral diseases and 2001 in the number of sclerac- were not yet described at that time, tinian taxa does not appear to be nor were they observed in the Cuban significant. The earlier study was survey. species richness of corals based on the laboratory identifi cation In August 2001, epizootic phe- in the Jardines de la Reina remains of collected specimens, a method nomena were also not found, but as high as it was 30 years ago that may result in more limited re- seemingly unprecedented moderate sults than underwater identifi cation. to high percentages of old mortality in- Nonetheless, the recent survey clearly dicated a possible cumulative effect of (two cases in one site) and also on demonstrates that, after 30 years, the mortality produced by coral diseases. Dichocoenia stockesi (one case in species richness of scleractinian cor- This time, in addition to hyperplasms another site). Yellow-blotch was di- als in this area has remained high, at and damselfi sh chimneys (each case agnosed on Montastraea annularis f. virtually the same level. observed in the same frequency as faveolata (one case in one site) and

Figure 1. Location of Survey sites

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 31 CURRENTS on Siderastrea radians f. siderea (one Other observations 3Cairns, S. (2000) A Revision of the case in another site). A low degree of Shallow-water Azooxanthellate bleaching (partial bleaching exhibited The over-sheeting growth of Scleractinia of the Western Atlantic. Studies Nat. Hist. Caribbean Region, by pale bluish and pinkish coloration) Acropora palmata is a positive sign. Other encouraging signs of reef surviv- Amsterdam, 75: 1-231 was observed only on Siderastrea 4 al include the considerable width of the Hyperplasm: portions of the coral tissue radians f. siderea (various cases in and skeletal elements that appear Cuban shelf, the presence of a variety 13 sites). No clear case of neoplasm5 larger than those around them. of coral reef types, and the enormous was found. 5The tissue and skeleton of a coral size and central Caribbean position of affected by a neoplasm are unlike Reef zonation, dead corals the Cuban coral reef system, which is the surrounding portions of the coral. the largest in Atlantic Region. For more details see: http://ourworld. and recruits compuserve.com/homepages/ mccarty_and_peters/Coraldis.htm In 1971, the composition of Scleractinia Conclusions 6Alcolado, P. et al. (2002) Resumen in reef zonation in Jardines de la Despite the signifi cant decline of coral ejecutivo sobre el estado de Reina followed the general ecological reef shallow zones and, to a lesser conservación de los arrecifes scheme of Cuban reefs. The damage extent, deep zones, the species rich- coralinos del suroeste y sureste in shallow parts of the reefs, evidenced ness of scleractinian corals in the de Cuba (año 2001). Informe by broken and dead stony corals, was Archipiélago Jardines de la Reina has ejecutivo inédito, 7 pp. Instituto de attributed to the destruction caused by not decreased and remains as high as Oceanología, Havana hurricane Flora (1963) and the consid- it was 30 years ago. erable input of fresh water and siltation The coral reefs in the Archipiélago Acknowledgments. Thanks to AGRRA in the area. Jardines de la Reina appear to be for making possible the re-survey of the In August 2001, shifts of scleractin- among those with the greatest chance area. We thank Dr. Robert Ginsburg, ian zones were not noted, but a very for survival in the Atlantic Region in Dr. Judith Lang, Dr. Serge Andréfouët, poor presence of live stony corals in light of: Elena de la Guardia, Fabián Pina, shallow zones, which were dominated • the preservation of a high scleractin- Karel Cantelar, Kenneth Marks, Hansel by standing dead colonies (old mortal- ian species richness; Caballero, Miguel Hernández, Jorge ity), was observed. The AGRRA survey • the incipient process of over-sheet- Hernández and Erwin Rodríguez for established6 that 95% of the studied ing in Acropora palmata; their fi eld assistance and discussions. reef crests had more than 40% dead • the existence of numerous coral We are grateful to Dr. Robert Ginsburg surface of Acropora palmata and found recruits; and Dr. Ken Lindeman for their critical only one reef crest in very good condi- • the width of the Cuban shelf and the review of the manuscript and helpful tion during a qualitative visit northeast presence of various reef types; suggestions. The expedition in August of Cayo Caballones (inner side of the • the enormous size and central 2001 was fi nanced by The National key). In the deep sites, the AGRRA Caribbean position of the Cuban Geographic Society’s Committee for survey found 52% dead surface of coral reef system; and Research and Education, Environ- the colonies of Montastraea annularis • the absence of significant nega- mental Defense, Ocean Fund, Ocean complex. The presence of dead scler- tive anthropogenic impacts and Research and Education Foundation, actinians diminished with depth, and the responsible and successful The Henry Foundation and The Coral after 8.0 - 12.0 m, their dominance management of tourist and fi shing Reef Fund. faded away, giving way to live corals activities. with the mentioned abnormalities, as well as the presence of numerous Vassil N. Zlatarski is the lead author coral recruits. References 1Zlatarski, V., Martinez Estalella, N. on The Scleractinians of Cuba Anthropogenic role (1982) Les Scléractiniaires de Cuba published 1980 (Russian) and 1982 avec des données sur les organismes (French) and may be contacted at Neither survey noted signifi cant reef associés. Edit. Bulg. Acad. Sci., Sofi a, [email protected] damage caused by human activity. The 472 pp., 161 pls., annex I Pedro M. Alcolado and Sergio 2 anthropogenic impact in fact appeared Alcolado, P. et al. (2001) Estado de González Ferrer, Instituto de salud de los arrecifes coralinos del to have recently played a benefi cial Oceanología, Ave. 1a, No.18406, Archipiélago Jardines de la Reina (SE role, as evidenced by the establish- de Cuba). Informe de la Expedición Playa, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba ment of a special protected diving zone CUBAGRRA II, agosto/2001, 60 pp. Philip Kramer, MGG/RSMAS, in the surveyed area. This protected Instituto de Oceanología, Havana, University of Miami, 4600 zone serves to balance the interests of AGRRA website: http://coral.aoml. Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, tourism, fi sheries and preservation. noaa.gov/agra/ FL33149, USA

32 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS Reef Discovery and Utilization in Antongil Bay, Republic Of Madagascar

Located on the northeastern coast (PNM), which contains the largest in order to identify target species, his- of Madagascar, Antongil Bay is a rich protected tract of eastern rainforest in torical fi shing grounds and the extent estuarine system that supports a diver- Madagascar2. to which the reefs are presently being sity of marine life, including mangrove, Within the Bay are two of the fi shed. seagrass and coral reef communities. three PNM marine protected areas Flushed with the warm currents of the (MPAs), which were established in Indian Ocean, the Bay spans an area of 1997 and were among the fi rst MPAs in Benthic surveys 2800 km2 with depths ranging from 1- Madagascar. These marine parks, ex- Five reefs in the northeastern por- 10 m near shore to 20-60 m in its cen- tensions of terrestrial protected areas tion of the Bay (A-E, Table 1, Figure tral and southern of the PNM, harbor 3) and one reef in the western portion reaches (Figure coral reef commu- of the Bay (F, Table 1, Figure 3) were 1). The Bay is an The Bay is an important economic nities2,3. Field sur- surveyed while snorkeling during important eco- resource to the Malagasy people veys conducted in February 2001. Eastern portions of the nomic resource order to designate Bay are infl uenced by high turbidity and to the Malagasy the MPAs and to freshwater infl ux and typically sustain people, supporting the traditional, explore their ecological importance mixed coral/algal communities with artisan and commercial harvest of have focused on areas south of comparatively higher species diversity crustaceans, fi n fi sh, and sharks for Tampolo (Figure 1), largely excluding than the western reefs (Table 2). The local consumption and export. The the northeastern and western portions reef system in the western part of the rich biological diversity of the region of the Bay3,4. Bay is made up of a network of patch also attracts ecotourism revenue, During a recent Wildlife Conservation and barrier reefs running parallel to the particularly through whale-watching Society fi eld expedition, several reefs shoreline and reaching, at times, up programs of the seasonal migration were discovered in these areas of the to 100 m in length. Though maximum and calving grounds of humpback Bay and were surveyed for benthic depth is about 10 m, most of the coral whales1. Additionally, the bay provides composition. Additionally, interviews formations occur within the fi rst 6 me- access to the Parc National Masoala with local fi shermen were conducted ters. The substrate typically consists

Figure 1 Typical species encountered within Antongil Bay include Acropora spp. (Photo by Priska Ketterer)

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 33 CURRENTS

Table 1. Reefs surveyed in Antongil Bay. FW = fresh water infl uence; T = turbid; CC = coral cover. High coral cover >50%; low coral cover <50% estimated visually in ~100m2 area. Locations correspond to reef sites in Fig. 2.

Dominant Reef Location Latitude (°S) Longitude (°W) Reef Type Remarks Coral Species A S of Navane 15º26'59.2" 49º54'08.6" Fringing Porites, T Pectinia FW Low CC B NW of 15º37'55.5" 49º54'02.3" Fringing/ Porites, FW Ambianizana Patch Tubinaria, Low CC Acropora C S of 15º37'43.1" 49º57'20.0" Fringing/ Porites, Algae, FW Ambianizana Patch Soft Corals High CC D S of 15º38'41.9" 49º57'47.2" Fringing Porites, Fungia, High CC Ambianizana Favia E W of 15º42'50.5" 49º57'39.0" Patch / Porites, Favia T Ambodiforaha granite Low CC boulders F SE of Rantabe 15º45'52.7" 49º40'29.3" Fringing Acropora and High CC branching species of soft sediment and sand and the nes and zoanthids. The reef south of Fishing patterns and water column is generally turbid with Navane (A, Figure 3) supports a strip of pressure a halocline detectable just below the seagrass a few meters wide that runs surface due to fresh water runoff from the length of the reef and maintains a Interviews conducted throughout adjacent rivers. community of sea cucumbers, pistol the survey region indicated that fi sh- Invertebrate species diversity and shrimp, commensal gobies and other ing pressure and fi shing camp density coral cover increase moving south invertebrate life. On the west coast, was highest in the northern reaches of along the eastern side of the Bay the reef south of Rantabe (F, Figure 3) the Bay. At present, the fi shery targets (Tables 1 and 2). The forereefs of the extends for several kilometers and is all common reef species (with the northeastern are dominated by massive characterized by very high coral cover exception of poisonous species) with Porites solida colonies with diameters (~80%) dominated by dense thickets of most of the harvest being consumed occasionally in excess of four meters. Acropora spp. with occasional patches locally. Spearfi shermen harvest com- Hardy branching species of Acropora of Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora mon reef species such as butterfly- spp., Stylophora spp. and Pocillopora spp. Signs of bleaching were observed fish (Chaetodontidae), parrotfishes spp. occupy the shallowest portions for all reefs surveyed, affecting vari- (Scaridae), rabbitfi shes (Siganidae), of the fore-reef slope, at times forming ous species of anthozoans including surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) and extensive mono- Acropora spp. angelfishes (Pomacanthidae), as specific stands. and Porites spp. well as sweetlips (Haemulidae) and In low fl ow, high- marine resources in Madagascar This bleaching damselfi shes (Pomacentridae). Other ly turbid areas may suffer from increased utilization event was likely reef species are caught using gill nets (B,D,E, Figure and habitat degradation due to abnormally and hook and line and include squir- 3), large tabular high sea surface relfishes, (Holocentridae), big eyes reef corals such temperatures in (Centropomidae), snapper (Lutjanidae, as Tubinaria sp. and Echinopora sp. the southern Indian Ocean near Caesenidae), sweepers (Pempheridae) colonies abound. Areas closest to Madagascar during the month of and small groupers (Serranidae). shore generally support shallow wa- February 2003 (visible on NOAA sat- Additionally, local divers target lobsters, ter, lagoonal species such as Fungia ellite imagery). Additionally, toppled octopus, and sea cucumbers for food sp., Galaxea sp., Goniopora spp., colonies of Porites solida and Favia and export. Tridacnid clams and large and Pectinia spp., along with several spp. were observed, a likely impact of carpet anemones (Heteractis magnifi ca) species of colonial and solitary anemo- the 2000 cyclone activity. are also harvested for subsistence level

34 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS

Table 2. Species of algae, sponges, cnidarians, mollusks, and echinoderms identifi ed in Antongil Bay. Locations corre- spond to reef sites in Figure 3. Abundance for individual species ranges from occasional to common to abundant.

SPECIES LOCATION ABUNDANCE Algae Halimeda spp. A, B Common Caulerpa spp. A – C Common Turbinaria spp. B, D, E Abundant Padina spp. A – E Abundant Sponges Strepsichordaia radiata A – F Common Anthozoans Hydroids Millepora spp. A – E Occasional Lace Corals Stylaster spp. B, D, E Occasional Anemones Heteractis magnifi ca C – F Occasional Zoanthids Zoanthus spp. A, B Common Palythoa spp. A – E Common Soft Corals Sarcophyton spp. B – E Occasional – Abundant Sinularia spp. A – C Occasional Stony Corals Acropora spp. A – F Common Echinopora spp. B, D, E Common Favia speciosa B – F Occasional – Common Favia favus C, D Occasional Favites spp. C, D, E Occasional Fungia spp. A – F Abundant Galaxea spp. A – E Common Goniopora spp. A – E Common Herpolitha spp. D Occasional Hydnophora spp. A – E Occasional Leptoseris spp. A, B Occasional Lobophyllia corymbosa A – F Common Pavona spp. A – E Common Pectinia lactuca A – D Common Platygyra daedalea A – E Common Pleurogyra spp. B Occasional Pocillopora verrucosa, B – F Abundant Pocillopora damicornis A – F Abundant Porites solida, A – F Abundant Porites cylindrica D Occasional Psammocora superfi cialis D – F Occasional Stylophora pistillata A – F Common Symphillia spp. A – E Common Tubinaria spp. B, D, E Common Octocorals Cirrhipathes sp. A – E Common Mollusks Sea slugs Phyllidiella spp. B Occasional Phyllidia spp. B Occasional Gastropods Lambis lambis A – E Common Bivalves Hyotissa hyotis C – E Common Tridacna maxima B – E Common Echinoderms Sea Urchins Diadema savignyi A – E Occasional – Common Sea Cucumbers Holothurids A – E Common Synaptids A – E Common Sea Stars Culcita schmideliana A, C, E Occasional Fromia milleporella A, D – E Occasional

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 35 CURRENTS

Figure 3 Antongil Bay where reef sites mapped in this study are Figure 2 Republic of Madagascar lettered A-F and correspond to descriptions in Table 1. consumption. Local fi shermen point out radation, making their conservation 5NOAA HotSpot website: http://www. that fi shing of reefs closest to villages and sustainable utilization through the osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/ has been intense in the past and may development of appropriate manage- climohot.html have led to stock declines. ment programs all the more urgent. Antongil Bay has recently become The authors would like to thank Mathew the focus of numerous marine conser- References Hatchwell,Yves, Rodin and Gervais at WCS Madagascar for fi eld assistance vation efforts in an effort to protect the 1 Rosenbaum, HC, Walsh, PD, and logistical support. This work was diversity and richness of its biological Razafi ndrakotot, Y, Vely, M, DeSalle funded through Antongil Bay Fisheries resources which, at present, are heav- R (1997) First description of a ily exploited for local and commercial Humpback Whale breeding ground Initiative of the Marine Conservation purposes2,4. These efforts are concen- in the Baie D’Antongil, Madagascar. Program at the Wildlife Conservation trating on the development of a com- Conservation Biology 11:312-314 Society prehensive and adaptive ecosystem 2Kremen CV, Razafi mahatratra V, Guillery RP, Rakotomalala J, Weiss management plan that would include Kenyon Mobley, Phaedra Doukakis, biological as well as socioeconomic A, atsisompatrarivos JS (1999) Designing the Masoala National Park Mananjo Jonahson factors. In order to develop the most in Madagascar based on biological Georgia Institute of Technology, comprehensive and encompassing and socioeconomic data. Conservation School of Biology, 310 Ferst Dr. plan possible, continued and in-depth Biology 13(5): 1055-1068 Atlanta, GA 30332-0230, USA Email research is necessary to better assess 3McClanahan T, Jaomanana, Kamukuru the extent to which reefs contribute to AT, Obura D (1997) Surveys of the overall productivity of the bay and shallow water corals and marine their signifi cance to local livelihoods. snails of the Masoala peninsula, Wildlife Conservation Society, As terrestrial resources throughout Madagascar. Report to Wildlife 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, Madagascar disappear at an unprec- Conservation Society, April 1991 New York, 10460, USA. Email 4Odendaal F, Jaomanana, Kroese M edented and alarming rate, and the (1995) The strategic plan for the current political crisis continues to management of the coastal zone of Wildlife Conservation Society, Villa cripple the economy, we predict that the Masoala peninsula, Madagascar. Ifanomezantsoa, Face II A 78 D, marine resources may suffer from Eco-African Environmental Soavimbahoaka, Madagascar Email increased utilization and habitat deg- Consultants, April 1995

36 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS Seychelles’ Coral Reefs Under Survey After the 1998 Bleaching Event New bleaching event in the inner granitic islands of Seychelles, impact on coral recruits

The Republic of Seychelles, situated in noticed for the past 20 years with the In 1997-98, the ENSO observed by the Western Indian Ocean, consists of development of some fi sheries and an a scientifi c community was described 115 islands (41 granitic islands and 74 increase of coastal pollution (important as the largest to occur within the coralline islands) totaling a land area reclamation areas, industrial activity, last 100 years. In the western Indian of 445 km². The 3 main islands, Mahé sedimentation). Actually, forms of pollu- Ocean, this led to a huge coral bleach- (154 km²), Praslin (37 km²) and La tion concern only ing event in the Digue (10 km²), host more than 90% the 3 main islands region, includ- Due to the combined effects of the total population. Small in terms of the Seychelles ing Seychelles. of coral bleaching and starfi sh predation, of terrestrial environment, Seychelles (Mahe, Praslin Temperatures of corals around the inner islands possess a large Exclusive Economic and La Digue) and well above 33°C of the Seychelles were amongst the worst Zone (EEZ) of 1.3 million km². The more specifi cally to 34°C were affected areas in the region. archipelago is located just south of the are concentrated recorded at the equator, to the north of Madagascar. around Victoria. surface and at As a consequence of the geologi- Unfortunately, the largest impacts depths up to 20 meters. Moreover, tem- cal origin of the Seychelles (part of the on the Seychelles environment have peratures in excess of 30°C persisted ancient native 130 million-year-old con- been caused from the latest global for more than 3 months. tinent, Gondwanaland), Seychelles is- phenomenon, coral bleaching, which These high temperatures main- lands are characterized by a high level correlates with world-wide human ac- tained for a prolonged period around of endemism with some unique animals tivities and the greenhouse effect. the inner granitic islands of Seychelles, and plants such as the Aldabra giant Between 1979 and 1990, approxi- which lead to a signifi cant reduction tortoise (Dipsochelys dussumieri), the mately 60 major bleaching events have in live hard coral cover. Mortality was Seychelles anemonefi sh (Amphiprion been observed and described around very high in branching corals such fuscocaudatus) and the Coco-de-mer the world. Since 1980, the frequency as Acropora spp., Pocillopora spp., palm (Lodoicea maldivica). of this phenomenon has increased with Millepora spp. and Heliopora spp. In massive bleaching observed in 1983, June 1998, approximately 80 to 95 % Coral Threats in Seychelles 1987, 1991 and 1998. Generally, this of hard coral mortality was recorded observation has been correlated with around Mahe Island. Human activities are relatively recent high sea surface temperatures dur- Coral reefs around the inner granitic and anthropological disturbances on ing the El Niño Southern Oscillation islands of the Seychelles had already the marine environment have been (ENSO) events. suffered in the late 1990’s from sig- nifi cant reductions in live cover of scleractinian hard corals as a result of localised crown-of-thorns starfi sh (Acanthaster planci) outbreaks. Active A. planci outbreaks were fi rst reported in some parts of Mahe in 1996 and starfi sh outbreaks remained active until the middle of 1998. Due to the combined effects of coral bleaching and starfi sh preda- tion, corals around the inner islands of the Seychelles were among the worst affected areas in the region. In 2000, two years after the mass coral bleaching of communities of both scleractinian and soft corals, coral reefs around Mahe remained in a severely degraded state with very low percentage cover values (0 to Typical underwater view of Pocillopora spp. recruits on a granitic reef. Photo: Engelhardt, 5% of live coral cover on 90% of the December 2001 sites surveyed under GEF project).

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 37 CURRENTS

Generally, those reef areas that have focusing on these activities in the last We know that a wide range of suffered from the bleaching and result- 3 years were the Shoals of Capricorn often unpredictable parameters are ing coral mortality have been rapidly Program, the Marine Ecosystem involved in coral recruit settlement, overgrown by algae. Management Project – GEF the Coral such as density, size and location Reef Degradation in the Indian Ocean of the mature coral, life duration of Coral reef survey in the program (CORDIO) program, and the coral larvae, type of substrata, impact Seychelles Environment Program from the Indian of pollution, hydrodynamic linkages Ocean Commission. (water circulation patterns) between As a consequence of the dramatic eco- Moreover, a new challenge was spawning areas and settlement ar- logical changes observed on Seychelles set up with the Marine Ecosystem eas, etc. However, it clearly appears reefs, several programs were initiated Management Project – GEF, coordi- in scientifi c publications that levels of in the Seychelles to (i) follow the status nated by the Conservation Section siltation, substrate-associated sedi- of coral reefs in Seychelles, (ii) identify (Ministry of Environment), focusing mentation and the extent of coralline and detect “key reefs” with signifi cantly particular attention on coral recruit- algae cover are critically important higher values of live scleractinian coral ment. These surveys not only record factors that may control actual rates cover (capable of improving hard coral data on baseline parameters, but also of larval settlement and subsequent recovery), and (iii) follow the natural provide detailed information on the successful recruitment. Following restoration (focusing on coral recruits) key ecological factors known to control successful settlement of coral larvae, of the reefs. Main scientifi c programs coral recovery on larval settlement. other ecological parameters control

Figure 1 Seychelles islands (left) and Mahé Island (right). Position of the study sites (squares), Whale rock (left), Corsaire reef (right) and other areas (circles) where bleaching colonies (full or partially bleached were observed by divers from Underwater Center Seychelles (Glynis Sanders, pers.com).

38 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS subsequent recruitment success such as preda- tion pressure by ‘true’ coral predators (e.g. crown-of-thorns starfi sh, Drupella snails), inciden- tal grazing organisms (e.g. sea urchins, fi sh) or other coral diseases (bacteria). All these parameters were followed for sev- eral months as part of the GEF program to assess the relative importance of each and evaluate inter- actions to the process of coral recruitment. New bleaching event in the inner granitic islands of Seychelles, impact Typical high concentration of black sea urchins (Diadema spp.) an incidental coral grazer which has been identifi ed on coral recruits as a key factor in coral recruitment. Photo: Wendling 2002. In April 2002, the first information about the sites where counted from benthic belt transects. observations with proof of new bleach- bleaching has been observed. More Fifty meter transect lines were placed ing were recorded by the Ministry of information was given by a dive cen- from a shallow depth (~2-3 m) down Environment (Conservation Section, tre (Underwater Centre Seychelles), to a greater depth (~7-15 m). Within Marine Unit) in the framework of a which identifi ed more than 15 dive sites these transects (at least 2 per site), Coral Reef and Sea Urchin monitor- where coral colonies were partially or two sub-transects were sampled for ing. These observations relate to the totally bleached (fi gure 1). recent coral recruits: a 0-10 m seg- high temperatures in consequence of At the same time, a more specifi c ment and a 40-50 m segment. In both seasonal trends (highest sea surface bleaching monitoring was set up by these segments, a 60 cm wide path on temperature were up to 30°C in the the Conservation Section (Marine either side of the central tape measure fi rst week of April). Moreover, this was Unit) to follow the event and evaluate was sampled for coral recruits, giving 2 exacerbated by calm seas, sunny peri- the consequences on Scleratinians. a total area of 2 x (10 x 1.2 m) = 24 m ods, and a total absence of wind. The methodology used is based on 2 per transect. objectives: (i) to estimate the level Coral recruits were classed by size of bleaching on corals (i.e. the range (<2 cm, 2-5 cm and 6-15 cm) All data collected from 1998 to 2001 around the percentage of colonies bleached), equivalent to different age classes inner granitic islands of Seychelles showed that and (ii) to follow the recovery or and by groups (Acropora spp., ACR; the percentage of coral reef cover is now very low mortality rate. Pocillopora spp., POC; and Massive – Encrusting – Fungid forms, MEF). Methodology The recruits were put into four pos- Temperatures observed (divers Following the huge bleaching event ob- sible categories: unbleached, partially information) reached 31°C during the served in 1998 which has caused mas- bleached (obvious signs of bleach- fi rst week of April at depths of up to 20 sive mortality of mature colonies, this ing across parts of the colony), fully metres on several dive sites. These monitoring is focused on coral recruits. bleached (the entire colony is bleached, temperatures remained at 29°C until Two sites (fi gure 1) were selected tak- but still alive), and dead colony. the end of April. An alert message was ing into account the actual ongoing Previous Results sent to several organisations involved monitoring on sea urchins: Whale rock in marine conservation (Marine Park (rocky reef) and Corsaire reef (coralline Our analyses on the impact of the new Authority, Marine Conservation Society reef), representing the 2 characteristic bleaching event are still ongoing, but of Seychelles, Coast Guard) to extend reefs of Seychelles. Coral recruits were some important trends can be pre-

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 39 CURRENTS sented for our two sites. Until the end entists, in the future (50-100 years), it Seychelles showed that the percent- of April, Pocillopora forms (Photo d) appears that the risk of bleaching will age of coral reef cover is now very are the principal colonies affected by increase in the same way that annual low, even if recovery is ongoing with the bleaching. global mean temperature changes. new larvae coming from mature colo- Mid-May, 45 days after the first The global average surface tem- nies. With their geographical position observation of bleaching, the percent- perature (the average of near surface (near the equator where Sea Surface age of Pocillopora spp. concerned air temperature over land and sea sur- Temperature is important in March to was 50.0 % (± 12.3), with 14.4% (± face temperature) has been increas- May), the inner granitics of Seychelles 12.2) of colonies fully bleached and ing since the beginning of the 20th coral reefs must be considered as an 43.6% (± 12.3) partially bleached. No century. Over the past 100 years, the endangered ecosystem. The survival bleaching was measured on Acropora best estimate (by ‘Intergovernmental of this ecosystem is now based on spp. (photo b) and some, 6.7% (± 1.9), Panel on Climate Change’) is that the the settlement of new larvae from ma- on M.E.F forms (essentially on young global average surface temperature ture colonies (probably coming from recruits of Porites spp.), with 0.3% (± has increased by 0.6 ± 0.2°C. Global neighbouring region) and resistance 0.63) of colonies fully bleached and ocean heat content has been increas- of both new and older corals to hu- 6.4% (± 3.3) partially bleached. ing since the late 1950s, the period man activities, pollution and high sea At the end of April (60 days after for which adequate observations of temperatures. the fi rst bleaching observations), the sub-surface ocean temperatures have Based on some of the climate fi rst dead colonies of Pocillopora spp. been available. change predictions, with sea surface were observed, while no bleaching or The globally averaged surface temperatures up to 32°C in less than mortality was observed for the other temperature is projected to increase by 100 years in the region, it is an op- coral families. Partial and full bleached 1.4 to 5.8°C over the period from 1990 portune moment to ask ourselves if colonies were observed until mid-June. to 2100. The projected rate of warm- the coral reefs can adapt to these That is to say that the bleaching event ing is much larger than the observed very rapid environmental modifi cations occurred over a period of 70 to 80 changes during the 20th century and or if this new bleaching event is new days. After each bleaching event, dead is very likely to be without precedent proof of the theory of the collapse of colonies were rapidly covered by algal during at least the last 10,000 years, some coral families in this part of the overgrowth, and some weeks later, it based on paleoclimatic data. world? appeared impossible to identify dead Predictions from climate models colonies from substrata. are subject to uncertainties because of B Wendling, PA Adam, U Engelhardt, To evaluate the impact of the limitations in our knowledge of how the G Rosine, R Alcindor, V Zialor and bleaching, an assessment was un- climate system works, different climate A Louange dertaken to estimate the mortality of models can give different predictions. Ministry of Environment -Division of Pocillopora spp. recruits (0-2) and All data collected from 1998 to 2001 Environment - Conservation Section (2-5) cm. Our fi rst analyses show that around the inner granitic islands of Botanical garden, Mont Fleuri BP on the 2 sites, the average mortality rate on Pocillopora is around 35.5 % (respectively 51% on 1 year old colo- nies and 20% on 2 year old colonies). Impacts seem to be higher in shallow water (less than 5 meters), probably associated with the higher tempera- tures and solar irradiance.

What is the future for Seychelles’ corals? The new bleaching could not be compared to what was observed in 1998, where more than 90% of mor- tality on branching corals occurred. However, the new impact draws us to the threats infl uencing the livelihood of coral reefs in the Seychelles. Taking into account climate change prediction models developed by sci- Acropora sp. recruit (2-5 cm). Photo: Engelhardt, December 2001

40 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS A New MPA Experience in Brazil: The Recife de Fora Marine Park, Bahia, Brasil

Bahia State has the most extensive stony coral species, but extends to coastline (830 km), as well as the fi shes (59 endemic species), octo- Bahia state . . . coral reefs . . . largest and most diverse coral reefs of corals (4 species) and hydrocorals (2 are characterized by a high degree Brazil. They were formed by Holocene species). Furthermore, unlike most of endemism (39%) biogenic structures that differ from the reefs, these occur under high levels well-known coral reef models of the of turbidity and sedimentation. It is of the frame-building coral species in Caribbean, Red Sea and Indo-Pacifi c4. assumed that the sea-level drop ob- Brazil are massive, displaying large Though they exhibit a relatively poor served along the Brazilian East Coast polyps and exhibiting encrusting forms stony coral fauna (18 species) when over the last 5,000 years has been in tidal pools and along reef edges. compared to other reef areas world- the main contributing factor for the Branching forms, typically more fragile, 6 wide (Table 1), they are characterized intermixing of reefal carbonates with are entirely absent . by a high degree of endemism (39%). siliciclastic deposition5, resulting in a The south coast of Bahia State, also Such endemism is not restricted to functionally more resistant coral. Most known as Discovery Coast, presents the most extensive continuous area of Table 1. Scleractinian coral species richness in different regions coral reef in Brazil (~200 km - Fig. 3). Notwithstanding the intrinsic value of Coral Reef Region Nº of species Reference its coral reefs, the south coast of Bahia, Southeast Asia >400 Wilkinson, 2000 is also of signifi cant historical interest. Australasia >360 Wilkinson, 2000 In April 1500, Portuguese sailors fi rst Red Sea - Persian Gulf >260 Wilkinson, 2000 set foot onto South American land here Indian Ocean >200 Wilkinson, 2000 and developed the fi rst urban core of Caribbean ~ 65 Wilkinson, 2000 Brazil’s colonial period. Despite the Hawaii 55 Wilkinson, 2000 emergence of settelements along the Brazil 18 Laborel, 1969 coasts, most of the region’s natural landscape, which includes mangroves,

Fig. 1. Aerial view of the Recife de Fora.

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 41 CURRENTS river systems, coastal plains, Atlantic Only now, four years after its designa- Porto Seguro Bay is also scheduled forest and sandy beaches, remained tion, are the fi rst results of scientifi c to appear in the July edition of the well preserved until about 30 years investigations within the park area be- journal Botanica Marina3. Preliminary ago. In the 1970s, the construction of ginning to appear. results of that research were presented highway BR-101 and the associated Two recently completed theses be- at the 9th International Coral Reef migratory fl ux of people from mainland came available in the last six months, Symposium and will be published in areas to the region’s coastal cities one discussing the distribution of the symposium’s proceedings. Results have led to severe Echinodermata of the benthic community surveys have environmental deg- within the MPA1 shown that due to differences in wave radation. Statistics Since MPA designation, fi shing activities and another eval- energy between both sides of the reef, show that popula- have been prohibited within park uating the effects these areas are distinctively charac- tion numbers rose boundaries of nutrifi cation on teristic both in terms of their physi- from 7,271 inhab- the benthic com- ography and diversity. The dominant itants in 1980, to munity structure2. wind pattern within the marine park 93,073 in 2000. Over the same time A paper presenting the distribution changes throughout the year (due to period, tourism has grown even faster, of the benthic macroalgal community the seasonal displacement of the trade providing the main revenue of Porto on nearshore and offshore reefs of wind divergence zone), moving from Seguro city (US $100 million in 1999, according the Bahian Tourist Board). The Recife de Fora (“outer reef” in Portuguese) (Fig. 1) is a shallow bank reef located 5 miles off the coast of Porto Seguro, Bahia, the fastest growing tourist destination in Brazil. The Recife de Fora Marine Park was established in 1997 and is managed by the Environment Secretary of Porto Seguro City.The reef itself is an impor- tant contributor to the city’s fame and one of the most visited tourist attrac- tions of the whole Discovery Coast. In 1997, fearful of the consequences of the growing numbers of tourists visiting the reef (about a thousand a day dur- ing the high season), the city council decided to create an MPA and initiate the gathering of data to develop its management plan. The MPA, offi cially designated on December 16, 1997, covers a total area of 17.5 km2. Access to the reef is only possible by sailing in one of the registered schooners, which offers trips out to the reef on a daily basis. The journey lasts 45 minutes. The reef has long been known to local communities as an important fi shing ground and is widely consid- ered the principal spawning area for a multitude of invertebrates and fi sh from the Porto Seguro Bay. Since MPA des- ignation, fi shing activities have been prohibited within park boundaries. A decision which, sadly, was taken by the government without any “technical support,” as the area remains one of Fig. 2. Detailed view of the small embayments characteristic of the reef crest, the least studied of the Brazilian coast. highlighting the Recife beach, where the schooners cast anchor.

42 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS

Fig. 3. Location map of the Porto Seguro Bay reefs in the south coast of Bahia State. east-southeast in the winter (June - seabed. Visibility is normally around Marinho do Recife de Fora, Porto August) to northeast during the rest 5m, but can reach 10m on calm days. Seguro, Bahia: Aspectos Qualitativos of the year, and thus determining the Many pools of varied shape and depth e Quantitativos. Departmento de direction of wave approximation. In occur on the intertidal reef fl at. The Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, both instances, the landward side of reef crest is irregular, frequently form- Brazil, 112 p the reef is protected from the main ing small embayments such as the 2Costa OS Jr (2001) Nutrifi cation wave action except occasionally during Enseada do Mourão, the Enseada da and its effects on coral reefs from winter months, when south-southeast Coroa and the Recife beach (Fig. 2). Southern Bahia, Brazil. Department winds blow due to the migration of cold It is hoped that the result of the of Biological Sciences, University of fronts. At low tide, an area of about above described study and others Plymouth, Plymouth, UK, 297 p 2.5 km2, with maximum dimensions of mentioned, will be used by MPA man- 3Costa OS Jr, Attrill MJ, Pedrini AG, 2.3 km long and 1.1 km wide, become agers as a baseline for evaluating the De-Paula JC (2002) Spatial and exposed for up to 9 hours. Depths effectiveness of the current fishing Seasonal Distribution of Seaweeds around the reef vary between 6 and restrictions. They should also help on Coral Reefs from Southern Bahia, 8m off the landward side, but can reach managers in outlining a monitoring Brazil. Botanica Marina, vol. 45, Julho 2002, 10 p 12m depth in the northeastern portion plan that will assess trends and iden- 4Leão ZMAN (1996) The coral reefs of tify changes in reef health since MPA of the windward slope. In contrast to Bahia: morphology, distribution and the landward reef, which is very steep, implementation. the major environmental impacts. the windward side is characterized by a References Anais da Academia Brasileira de shallow slope. A mixture of siliciclastic 1Cerqueira WRP (2002) Levantamento Ciências, 68(3): 439-452 and carbonate sediment dominate the dos Echinodermata do Parque 5Leão ZMAN, Ginsburg RN (1997) Living

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 43 CURRENTS

reefs surrounded by siliciclastic Townsville, 363 p and coral reef ecology) at the sediments: the Abrolhos coastal reefs, 8Laborel JL (1969) Madreporaires et Department of Biological Sciences, Bahia, Brazil. Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef hydrocoralliaires recifaux des côtes University of Plymouth, UK. You can Symp. 2: 1767-1772 brésiliennes. Systematique, ecologie, email him at [email protected] 6Leão ZMAN, Kikuchi RKP (1999) The repartition verticale et geographie. Bahian coral reefs – from 7000 years Annales de L’Institut Oceanographique BP to 2000 years AD. Ciência e de Paris, 47: 171-229 Zelinda Leão is professor of coral Cultura, 51(3/4): 262-273 reef geology at the Geosciences 7Wilkinson CR (2000) Status of Coral Institute, Federal University of Reefs of the World: 2000. Australian Ozéas Costa Jr has recently fi nished Bahia, Brazil. She can be reached at Institute of Marine Sciences, his PhD (biogeochemistry of nutrients [email protected]

Implications Of Predator-Prey Relationships For Marine Protected Area Design The world’s fi sheries have experienced Recent studies on the inshore is- of my study are a stepping stone to- great decline, and coral reef associated lands of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) wards investigating such a system. If fi sheries are no exception. As a result have shown substantial differences this effect is taking place, it has huge of this decline, an ever increasing in density and biomass of coral trout implications for marine reserve design. management option for reef fi sheries between fi shed and no-take zones9. Work on the movement of predators, is the establish- Intensive gut-anal- such as coral trout, has shown large ment of marine ysis studies have intra-reefal movements, but little move- the majority of prey species surveyed protected areas, been conducted ment between reefs across channels14. had a higher density in the fi shed than or marine fi sher- on the coral trout Therefore, from a fi sheries perspective, the no-take zones ies reserves1. In (Plectropomus marine reserves encompassing part of terms of fi sheries leopardus), iden- a reef or a section of an island’s reef management, it is hoped that marine tifying their favored prey fi sh items10 would be more benefi cial than protect- reserves will increase the abundance on both closed and open reefs of the ing the whole reef if spillover of target and species richness of target fi shes, GBR11. I have used both these pieces species is a primary objective. Further provide breeding grounds and ulti- of information to look at the density of study in this area would clearly be of mately export fi sh biomass by means favored prey fi sh species of the coral benefi t. of adult emigration and larval export2. trout on the inshore islands of the GBR. There is some evidence of increases The study has shown that the majority Acknowledgements 3 in target species within reserves and of prey species surveyed had a higher I thank Garry Russ, Richard Evans limited evidence of spillover to non-re- density in the fi shed than the no-take and fi eld team members for help and 4 serve locations . But what is happen- zones even after differences in habitat encouragement during this study. The 12 ing with the non-target species? The complexity were taken into account . study was supported by The Rotary predation hypothesis states that post- These data suggest that a trophic effect Foundation, Merit Research Grant and settlement mortality due to piscivory can be found in more complex reefal the Australian Research Council. largely determines patterns of abun- systems such as those of the GBR. dance of adult fi sh5. With this in mind, Previous modeling work has sug- References an associated decrease in abundance gested that prey gradients of this na- 1Jennings S (2001) Patterns and of target species (often predatory prediction of population recovery in fi sh) due to fi shing should result in marine reserves. Reviews in Fish an increase in their prey; a “prey marine reserves encompassing part Biology and Fisheries 10:209-231 release” response. Conversely, an of a reef or a section of an island’s reef 2Roberts CM (1997) Ecological advise increase in target species due to would be more benefi cial than protecting for the global fi sheries crisis. TREE marine reserve protection may result the whole reef if spillover of target species 12:35-38 3 in a decline in their prey. A small is a primary objective Polunin NVC, Roberts CM (1993) amount of evidence is available for Greater biomass and value of target coral-reef fi shes in two small this pattern in reef fi sh communities Caribbean marine reserves. Mar Ecol 6 in Kenya and the Caribbean . However, ture (between reserve and non-reserve Prog Ser 100:167-176 evidence is much less conclusive in locations) may attract predators out of 4Alcala AC, Russ GR (1990) A direct more complex systems towards the protected areas and thus facilitate adult test of the effects of protective Indo-West Pacifi c7,8. target species spillover13. The results management on abundance and yield

44 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS

of tropical marine resources. J Exp history and fi shing intensity in family 13Walters C, Pauly D, Christensen V Mer 46:40-47 responses. Coral Reefs 17:399-416 (1999) Ecospace: prediction of 5Hixon MA (1991) Predation as a 9Williamson and Russ Unpublished mesoscale spatial patterns in trophic process structuring coral reef fi sh 10St John J (1995) Feeding ecology of the relationships of exploited ecosystems, communities. In Sale PF (ed) The coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus with emphasis on the impacts of ecology of fi shes on coral reefs. Serranidae on the Great Barrier Reef, marine protected areas. Ecosystems Academic Press, San Diego, USA. pp Austalia. Ph.D. diss., James Cook 2:539-554 14 475-508 University of North Queensland, Davies CR (1995) Patterns of 6 Koslow JA, Hanley F, Wicklund R Townsville, Australia. 277p movement of three species of coral (1988) Effects of fi shing on reef fi sh reef fi sh on the Great Barrier Reef. 11St John J, Russ GR, Brown IW, Squire communities at Pedro bank and Port Ph.D. diss., James Cook University LC (2001) The diet of the large reef Royal Cays, Jamaica. Mar Ecol Prog of North Queensland, Townsville, Ser 43:201-212 serranid Plectropomus leopardus in Australia. 212p 7Jennings S, Polunin NVC (1997) Impacts two fi shing zones on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Fish Bull 99:180-192 of predator depletion by fi shing on the Nicholas AJ Graham, biomass and diversity of non-target 12Graham NAJ, Evans RD, Russ GR School of Marine Biology reef fi sh communities. Coral Reefs (2003) Predator-Prey relationships 16:71-82 of coral reefs fi shes: The effect of and Aquaculture, James Cook 8Russ GR, Alcala AC (1998) Natural marine reserve protection in the Great University of North Queensland, fi shing experiments in marine Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. Townsville, Qld 4812, Australia. reserves 1983-1993: roles of life Environmental Conservation Email: [email protected]

Coral Reefs and bleaching: death by a thousand cuts?

As the southern hemisphere summer ing is completely different between Since 1998, reefs that suffered passes for another year, reef manag- the two events. Although the worst patchy, but, in places, high mortal- ers and scientists are again counting affected reefs in 2002 still occurred in- ity (such as Orpheus Island - up to the damage due to coral bleaching. shore, many more mid- and outer-shelf 80% of coral cover), have not recov- The Great Barrier Reef (GBR), French reefs were affected ered. Recruitment Polynesia, Fiji, Tuvalu and American in 2002, affecting of Acropora spp. is Samoa all experienced mild to severe ~2/3 the length of 60% of total reef area was bleached low, and the once bleaching between January and April the GBR. Areas this past summer abundant fi re coral, 2002. Dedicated aerial surveys to with high bleach- Millepora sp., is still document the bleaching on the GBR ing in 1998 such as locally extinct. In the reveal that around 60% of total reef the Palm Islands, 2002 event, it was area was bleached this past summer. Franklin Islands and the Capricorn the reefs in the Bowen area, 200km to This compares with around 44% in Bunker group showed little or no the south of Townsville, which suffered 1998. However, total reef area in the bleaching in 2002. On the other hand, high mortality. Plating and staghorn highest bleaching categories was es- areas with little or no bleaching in Acropora gardens, which covered sentially similar between ’98 and 2002. 1998, such as Princess Charlotte Bay >90% from the reef crest to the bot- The most surprising result from these and the Whitsunday Island Group had tom of the reef slope, are now 80-90% surveys was that the pattern of bleach- high bleaching. dead. Pocilloporids of any descrip-

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 45 CURRENTS tion were virtually wiped out (>99.9% islands. We may think of these species dire predictions of death by a thousand mortality). Mortality was also high on as the weeds or ‘lab rats’ of the coral cuts1… or perhaps only a few dozen a number of reefs in the Whitsunday world, but with successive bleaching would be enough? Island and Sir James Smith Groups in events, each following closely on the the inshore central heels of the previous References GBR. At Daydream event, it won’t be long 1Hoegh-Guldberg, O (1999) Climate Island, a popular the 2002 summer before we loose them change, coral bleaching and the tourist destination, exceeded 1998 temperatures completely from our future of the world’s coral reefs. Mar the needle coral, on the GBR reefs. Freshwater Res 50:839-866 Seriatopora hystrix, The thermal once formed a car- anomaly associated Ray Berkelmans, Australian pet several hundred metres in length with the 1998 bleaching event was, Institute of Marine Science, between 7 and 14m depth. This is now until now, the worst on record for both Townsville, Australia. Email< an ex-carpet. Millepora sp. suffered the GBR and reefs globally. Just four [email protected]> ~50% mortality, but thankfully, the ma- years later, the 2002 summer exceed- jority of staghorn Acropora recovered. ed 1998 temperatures on the GBR by Fisheries Engineer, MSc. Pocilloporids (Seriatopora hystrix, every metric. Given the rapid return Technical advisor to DAP/MMA, Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora of another record thermal anomaly, and campaign coordinator. damicornis) also suffered near total though this time with a different spatial E-mail: [email protected] mortality at a number of other nearby pattern, we may well be realizing the and [email protected]

Photo 1. Fields of snow, …. just prior to the thaw. Reef fl at at Halfway Island in the southern inshore Great Barrier Reef, February 2002.

46 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS REEF FISHERY MANAGEMENT IN DISCOVERY BAY, JAMAICA The Fishery approximately 60 tons per year3, worth sustainable fishing practices. This about $US300,000. message spread and in 1996 the Mesh The inshore reef fi shery of the north Shared among the 130 active Exchange program was expanded into coast of Jamaica is one of the most fi shermen in this area, this represents the neighboring fi shing beaches of Rio over-exploited in the Caribbean. an average annual income of $2,400 Bueno, Runaway Bay and Salem at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory per year, even less than that of Ocho request of the fi shermen there. FIP has researchers have documented the Rios fi shermen which approximates $ also been instrumental in assisting the decline of this fi shery1 where the aver- 3,200 per year4. This must cover the local fi shing community to organize into age fi sh caught has decreased from a cost of purchasing a Co-Operative for mean weight of 135g in 1996 to 119g fi shing gear, fuel the ultimate pur- in 20012. The abundance of more valu- and supporting a pose of creating able species such as groupers and …the high demand for seafood typical family of products in the context of a degraded an assemblage of snappers has been markedly reduced. fi ve people. organized fi shing Today, 30% of the local catch consists resource means that a broad-scale public Since 1968 education initiative throughout Jamaica is communities with of small parrotfish (e.g. Sparisoma catches have fall- the capacity to im- aurofrenatum) and surgeonfi sh (e.g. also needed for any fi sheries management en 13% in weight policy to be effective. plement manage- Acanthurus bahianus). These are and 17% in value2. ment techniques. categorized as trash fi sh in most other Today, the aver- A fourth initia- countries3. There are approximately age catch of fi sh tive of FIP was as- 130 active full time fi shers in Discovery pots is less than 1 kg / haul-1, worth little sistance to the ALLOA Fisherman’s Co- Bay. Traditional Lesser-Antillean Z more than $4, and the fi shery is still in Operative, a group of fi shermen work- traps (mesh 1¼”- 1½”) are used by decline. The reefs have an average of ing out of the Old Folly Fisherman’s 70% of the fi shers as their main fi sh- 10% coral and 45% algal cover. This Beach in Discovery Bay, to establish a ing gear. The average fisher owns is due, in part, to the slow recovery marine protected area (Fig. 1) in 1996. about 10 traps but not all are deployed of the long-spined black sea urchin The reserve consisted of 27.5 ha of simultaneously since a lack of motor- Diadema antillarum from a Caribbean- shallow back reef and lagoon habitats ized vessels restricts the number than wide die off in 1984. Compounding this (< 20m depth) that were known to be can be deployed. About half of fi shers problem is the lack of herbivorous fi sh, an important breeding ground for many troll on their way to check their traps. caused by intense fi shing pressure and of the fi sh recruiting into the reef fi sh- A small number of fi shers use gill nets, destruction of inshore nursery habitat ery. The reserve was shown to have and about 25% are spear fi shers. due to coastal development and poor a positive impact on local catches by inland agricultural practices. delaying the size and age at recruit- Fishing Effort ment into the fi shery for fi sh that use The Fisheries Improvement the reserve as a nursery area. A few On a typical day, approximately 20 Program boats fi sh the inshore reefs where an species have shown reduced mortality average of seven traps are hauled from In 1988, the Fisheries Improvement rates as a result of periodic residence 27m. The majority of the fi shermen Program (FIP) began to address in the reserve and have consequently use the 1¼” mesh traps that soak for the issue of an over-exploited reef attained larger sizes. Subsequently, and average of 2.8 days. A quarter of fi shery. FIP helped fi shers to modify fi shermen from the Top Beach Fishing the fi shing is done with the 1½” mesh their fi shing gear by implementing a Beach requested that the area of the traps that soak for an average of 5.2 Mesh-Exchange Program in 1991 that reserve be extended to include the days. It is estimated that Discovery Bay provided enough 1½” wire mesh to eastern part of the Bay. A third group fi shermen make 34,300 trap hauls/year make two traditional lesser Antillean of fi sh have shown increases in spawn- or about 264 boat days of work per Z traps in exchange for each working ing stock biomass and thus increased year resulting in a catch weight of trap made of smaller mesh returned recruitment rates resulting in a larger 6 29,700 kg/year while spear fi shermen by the fi sherman. Within three years average number of fi sh per catch . spend 5,000 fishing days/year and the number of fi sh caught per fi sh trap, Future Considerations catch 23,000 kg/year. Five net fi sh- the catch weight per fi sh trap and the ers make 340 boat trip days/year and mean size of individual fi sh had in- Sustained progress in improving the bring in 2,150 kg/year while 19 line creased while the catch composition fi shery around Discovery Bay has also fi shers spend 2400 boat days/year at had shifted towards larger and more been difficult. Widespread illiteracy sea and catch 4740 kg/year (drop line) valuable species5. Another aspect of and unemployment, and the lack of a and 1,110 kg/year (trolling). The total FIP was to increase the fi sher’s aware- traditional culture of community-based fi sh catch around Discovery Bay is ness of the importance of adopting resource management have encour-

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 47 CURRENTS aged high levels of distrust in this small niques. Recent research at DBML has garding the importance of modifying fi shing society. The enforcement of the sought to evaluate the environmental fishing practices to reduce fishing reserve area has been discontinued and economic costs and benefi ts of pressure. However, the high demand due to a lack of funds in 1999. While this alternative. Yet another way of for seafood products in the context of many fi shers catch more today than in reducing fi shing effort on the inshore a degraded resource means that a 1996, the average size of most spe- reef fi shery may lie in the exploitation of broad-scale public education initiative cies caught has still decreased. The off-shore pelagic and deep stocks such throughout Jamaica is also needed FIP continues to seek management as deep water snapper and grouper. for any fi sheries management policy alternatives for this dwindling fi shery. Information from a stock assessment to be effective. The implementation of Research has shown that the place- of these species would bolster pro- this third initiative is critical to halting ment of rectangular escape holes in posals to supplement the incomes of the practice of catching and selling the mesh of the traps enables smaller the local fi shing community by setting undersized fi sh. Without it, the decline fi sh move freely out of the traps, and up a small-scale long-line fl eet. Such of the reef fi shery will continue as long thus to delay size and age at recruit- off-shore fi sheries may hold the most as people are willing to buy undersized ment into the fi shery. The catchability potential for alleviating the pressures catch. of larger fi sh is not decreased7. on inshore stocks throughout the References Another possibility for alleviating Caribbean. 1Picou-Gill, M et al (1991) Catch analysis pressure on the reef fishery is the There is increased aware- at Discovery Bay, Jamaica: The status introduction of Tilapia mariculture tech- ness amongst local fishermen re- of an artisanal reef fi shery. Proc. Gulf Caribb. Fish. Inst., 1991. 2Sary, Z et al (2001) Status report on a Jamaican reef fi shery: Current value and the costs of non-management. ICLAM Caribbean/Eastern Pacifi c Offi ce Technical Report. 3Sary, Z (2001) The small scale reef fi shery on the central north coast of Jamaica in 2000-2001: A biological and socio-economic survey. ICLARM Caribbean/Eastern Pacifi c Offi ce Technical Report. 4Warner, GF, Linton, DM (2002) A report on the Fishery at Sailor Hole Beach, Ocho Rios. Prepared for CWIP (USAID/NEPA) 5Sary, Z (1995) responses of an overexploited Caribbean trap fi shery to the introduction of a larger mesh size in Discovery Bay, Jamaica. (Thesis submitted for partial fulfi lment for a Degree of Master of Science in Marine Resource and Environmental Management of the University of the West Indies) 6Munro, J (2000) Out-migration and movement of tagged coral reef fi sh in a marine fi shery reserve in Jamaica. Proc. Gulf Caribb. Fish. Inst. 51: 557- 568. 7Munro et al in press

Peter M. H. Gayle is the Principal Scientifi c Offi cer ([email protected]) and Michael J. Sikora is the Environmental Awareness Offi cer at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Centre for Marine Sciences, University of the West Indies Figure 1. Map of Discovery Bay

48 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS A NEW PROTOCOL FOR SURVEYING ELKHORN AND STAGHORN CORAL

Biologists and GIS-specialists from the US Geological Survey, National Park Service and the University of the Virgin Islands are collaborating on surveys of Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral) around the US Virgin Islands to determine if this species is recovering following decimation from white band disease and hurricanes over the last 25 years. Over time, we expect to be able to document if there is an increase in both the number and size of the elkhorn colonies. We have developed a new protocol for mapping and assessing the condition of elkhorn colonies (pres- ence of disease and predators, percent dead) based on recording GPS way- points for each surveyed colony along with data on depth, size and condition. Photographs are also taken of each colony and all data are entered into a database. The GPS waypoints are mapped onto geo-referenced aerial photo- graphs providing information on spatial patterns. Because elkhorn coral pri- marily reproduces via fragmentation, it is logical to assume that groups of colo- nies will form the basis of new stands of live elkhorn. It is also possible that groups of colonies will be either more or less susceptible to some stresses (for example, predation by snails, dis- Figure 1. Elkhorn coral in the US Virgin Islands in 1966. ease) than isolated colonies. Because this coral species has a relatively high growth rate (up to 10 cm per year), sub- stantial increases could be seen within 3-5 years. Evidence of a decrease in the abundance of elkhorn could be correlated with the presence of preda- This spatially based approach represents an early step in adapting tors, disease, storms, or other factors, methods from the developing fi eld of terrestrial landscape pattern although we will not necessarily be analysis to marine systems. able to conclusively show causation. A subset of colonies can be monitored over time to collect more detailed data on these stresses. We have focused mostly on elkhorn coral but are also collecting data on A. cervicornis (stag- horn) with this same protocol.

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 49 CURRENTS

Figure 2. Measuring an elkhorn coral.

This method can be done effi ciently • Get GPS waypoint of each colony The protocol is more diffi cult to use with 3 people, with one person taking (or group of colonies if they are very when colonies are in dense stands. the GPS waypoints, and two others close together) However, the GPS unit can be used completing the fi eld sheet for individual • Take digital photo of colony (colonies) to delineate a polygon around the colonies. One of these team members • Fill out fi eld data sheet with infor- stand, and at least some of the desired or a fourth individual can take digital mation on depth; size (estimated data can be collected. The density of photos of each colony or group of from “height”, “width” and “length” the stand can be calculated from the colonies. A breakdown of the method measurements); presence of dis- area of the polygon and the number of is as follows: ease, snails; percent of recent dead; colonies. These polygons can also be • Select the reef zone or area to be percent total dead shown on the maps. studied • Return to offi ce and download way- With this GIS-based information, we • Use GPS unit to get a waypoint at points using Ozi Explorer software should be able to look at the patterns of the anchor site or mooring (we are (available at OziExplorer.com) and elkhorn distribution to see if new patch using a Garmin 12XL in a waterproof ArcView reefs or stands are forming in certain case on a kick board) • Generate a map (on benthic maps areas over time. The maps will also • Locate an elkhorn colony or group or on geo-referenced aerial photos) illustrate patterns in distribution of dis- of colonies with coral distribution ease, predation, size, fresh breakage

50 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org CURRENTS

Figure 3. Information on the number of Coralliophila snails and the percent of tissue loss are also recorded.

or percent dead. As part of the study, approach represents an early step in Caroline Rogers at caroline_ we may learn that elkhorn colonies adapting methods from the developing [email protected]. in certain locations are much more fi eld of terrestrial landscape pattern susceptible to predation or disease. analysis to marine systems. This information could then be linked to genetic studies and further experi- For a copy of the detailed protocol Caroline Rogers, Christy Loomis, mental research. This spatially based and the fi eld data sheet, contact Barry Devine

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 51 COUNTRY PROFILE Coral Reefs of the Fiji Islands: Current Issues Geography and Distribution The population of Fiji in July 2001 Threats to Reefs was about 844,330, with a growth rate Fiji is a scattered archipelago made 1 of 1.41 percent . Ninety percent of the Fiji’s reefs are considered to be in rela- up of about 330 islands and 500 people live on the two large islands tively good condition. Coral bleaching cays, located two-thirds of the way of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu while has had widespread impact in recent between Hawaii and New Zealand. less than half (about 104) of the other years, with reefs near large urban cen- Approximately 1000 diverse fringing islands are inhabited2. Taveuni and and barrier reefs are found across Fiji Kadavu islands are important tourist ters being subject to urban pollutants, with one of the most spectacular reef dive destinations. The major island heavy gleaning, coastal development systems being the 370 km Great Sea groups are the Mamanucas, home and siltation. Destructive fi shing prac- Reef. Geographically isolated in the to the majority of tourist resorts, the tices, including dynamiting and poison- South-West Pacifi c, Fiji shares spe- Yasawas, a popular destination for ing with the root of a local plant Derris cies with the highly diverse Indo-West tourist boats and the Lau Group which sp., cause locally serious damage in Pacifi c, but has lower diversity. supports almost no tourism. some parts.

Figure 1. Map of Fiji, excluding Rotuma in the north (12.5° S, 177.1° E) and Ono-i-Lau (20.7° S, 178.7° W) and Ceva-i-Ra (21.77º S, 174.52º E) in the south. Adapted from Cumming et al. (in press).

52 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org COUNTRY PROFILE

Overfi shing: Major and minor coral bleaching function. The average age of col- became an annual event during sum- lected colonies is 40-80 years and Most reefs in Fiji are moderately to mer (December-April) from 1998-2002. reef degradation is apparent, though heavily fi shed. Reefs near to cities are Minor bleaching, involving a small pro- no environmental impact assessment under heavy pressure from commercial portion of colonies and/or mainly partial has been carried out15. 3 fi shing while those near villages are bleaching, occurred in 1998 and 1999 subject to subsistence and artisanal while mass bleaching occurred in 2000 Trade in reef products fi shing. Fishing has resulted in a stock throughout Fiji (except north of Vanua Since 1984 the curio trade (bleached reduction of invertebrates such as gi- Levu) affecting 64% of coral colonies. coral skeletons) was the principal reef ant clams, and over targeting of reef Severe mortality of Acropora at Beqa product exported from Fiji until the fi sh species such as Lethrinus harak, outer reef slopes (99%) and Pacifi c growth of the marine aquarium trade Lethrinus xanthochilus, Lethrinus neb- Harbor lagoon patch reefs (80%) near in the mid 1990s Fiji is the only regular ulosus, and Bolbometopon muricatum. Beqa occurred between April 2000 and supplier of curio coral from the Pacifi c. In most areas, B. muricatum has been 14 April 2001 . Although the US bans curio collecting fi shed to local extinction. In early March 2001, minor bleach- from its own reefs, it is the major export Crown-of-Thorns Starfi sh (COTs) ing was widespread and some sites market for Fiji’s curio trade where cor- were on the verge of major bleaching als are sold as ornaments or for use in A major COT outbreak occurred in due in part to a drop in seawater tem- aquaria. Selling ornamental corals to 1965-70, followed by outbreaks in perature caused by Cyclone Paula. tourists is banned in Fiji, although local 4 1978-1982, 1983-1985 and 1993-pres- Cyclone Paula overturned corals and unregulated handicrafts stalls do sell 5 ent leading to coral reef degradation. removed many dead standing colonies them on a small scale. The fi shery is Since 1996, new outbreaks have been and further impacted reefs, that were under review by the Fisheries Division, reported annually at widely dispersed bleached during the 2000 incident. which is seeking to confi ne the harvest 6 sites in Fiji , including the Mamanucas, In 2002 Fiji had bleaching coinciding to sustainable levels through prohi- Wakaya, Lau, Taveuni, southern Viti with reports of severe mass bleaching bition and limitation. Over 124,000 7,8,9 Levu, Kadavu and Gau . on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. pieces (mostly whole colonies) are This event was less severe than 2000 16 Pollution currently exported annually . with mass bleaching being restricted Fiji is the world’s second larg- In urban areas, sewage pollution, rec- in most areas to shallow inshore reefs est exporter of live reef products for lamation and poor land use contribute and reef tops due to a thermocline at the marine aquarium trade behind to high sedimentation and eutrophica- 2-3 meters. Indonesia. The trade includes corals tion10. Most urban areas lack sewage Reef Harvesting (hard, soft, gorgonians), other inverte- treatment and proper waste disposal. brates (anemones, zooanthids, coral- High levels of nitrates and phosphates Corals are harvested in Fiji for septic limorphs, molluscs, echinoderms), reef have been found in long-term studies systems, the curio trade and the marine fish, “live rock” (calcium carbonate in Laucala Bay, off Suva11,12. aquarium trade. Occasionally, mas- reef rock covered with coralline algae Litter is common around all urban sive corals of the genera Goniopora and associated fauna and fl ora) and areas in Fiji. Most garbage dumps are and Alveopora are also exported for “live sand” (reef sand with resident located in mangrove areas, posing medical use in bone replacement. All interstitial fauna and fl ora). Live rock serious health risks to the public and harvested corals are exported except is used for substrate and bio-fi ltration environment. For example, leaching those for septic systems. in aquaria. Live sand aids in water toxins from the Suva dump13 contami- fi ltration and provides a substrate for nates Suva Harbor. Pollution can also Septic systems microorganisms. This market is also occur in the immediate vicinity of more Live colonies of the genus Porites dominated by the US, but also includes desolate tourist resorts and villages. have historically been harvested from Japan and Europe. Seven companies currently export Coral Bleaching and Cyclones reefs near Suva for use in septic tanks, a practice that continues in present live reef organisms from Fiji. Collection The Seawater Temperature Monitoring times. The coral is sold on the roadside is contracted out to villages with an i Program at the University of the South for construction of drains and soakage qoliqoli (customary reef rights area) Pacifi c (USP) has been recording sea- pits for septic tanks, as required by from which collectors fill orders for water temperature at numerous sites Suva City Council regulations. This species and quantities. The market throughout Fiji since 1996. Studies have practice is based on the invalid as- is expanding and many villages are suggested that seawater temperature is sumption that the smell of wastewater keen to become involved for the cash a factor in coral bleaching with seawater overflow from sewage systems will income. Live rock is removed as blocks in Fiji generally cooling during El Niño be removed by the presence of coral, of reef rock 15-35cm diameter. These and warming during La Niña events. and that only corals can perform this are either packed on the beach and

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 53 COUNTRY PROFILE taken directly to the airport, or taken lifted a quota of 50% of the 2001 per- cally broad areas where monitoring still to holding facilities for “curing.” Curing mitted exports had to be imposed and continues in many instances17. involves keeping corals moist with a the CITES legislation must be ratifi ed The logistics and costs of coral reef fi ne spray of seawater so the coralline by Fiji’s Parliament. This legislation is monitoring in Fiji currently preclude a algae survive while less hardy associ- currently being formulated. single research group from surveying ated organisms die. Cured product is such a large area. The GCRMN relies considered higher quality and has a Research and Monitoring on the activities of various research groups, NGOs such as Greenforce higher value because associated or- Historically, coral reef research in Fiji and Coral Cay Conservation, and ganisms are less likely to die in aquaria has been confi ned largely to Suva, reef-based tourist operations such as and affect water quality. where the Marine Studies Program the Fiji Dive Operators Association, to No export limits or formal man- (MSP) of University of the South provide surveying. The GCRMN re- agement plans exist for reef harvest- Pacific (USP) has a field station cently mounted a campaign to involve ing. Export is limited only by market located in close vicinity to Suva’s tourist resorts in monitoring their local demand, restricted freight space on barrier reefs. Postgraduate and staff reefs using Reef Check and GCRMN airplanes and availability of properly research projects are evaluating reef methodology. Training workshops for sized corals (less than 15 cm) to fi t health with studies looking at impacts the local community and courses for in aquaria. Conflict exists between of fi shing, mass coral bleaching, ma- resort staff are being conducted about the coral trade and tourism sectors rine protected areas and aquarium Reef Check’s reef monitoring program, because of the lack of a national coral harvesting, remote sensing, ecology which is simple enough to allow non- reef management plan. of reef organisms and soft-sediment scientifi c personnel to contribute repro- In 1998 Fiji became a CITES benthos, aquaculture of corals, algae, ducible data to a large survey, in order (Convention on International Trade in corallimorphs and fish, taxonomy, to create a network of monitors. The Endangered Species) signatory oblig- social aspects of subsistence fi shing GCRMN is also establishing monitoring ing it to control trade in endangered and marine law. sites around Suva and is collaborating species, or species that may become Scientifi c research of harvesting with the World Wide Fund for Nature endangered if trade is unregulated. impact has been inadequate, but re- (WWF) South Pacific Program for This requires setting quotas, but by cently Reef Check, the International monitoring a newly established marine January 2002 required legislation had Marine Alliance (IMA) and the South protected area (MPA) at Ono Island, not been passed, annual reports had Pacifi c Regional Environment Program Kadavu18. not been fi led, and quotas had not been (SPREP) have begun organizing In July 2001, Fiji joined Kosrae, set so that Fiji defaulted on the terms scientifi c research, capacity building Pohnpei, Palau, The Philippines, of CITES. The CITES Secretariat in and monitoring. The Marine Aquarium Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Geneva recommended that all signa- Council (MAC) has commissioned Australia in the SeagrassNet to moni- tory countries, including the US, cease Reef Check to develop an assessment tor changes in sea grass beds. Fiji trade with Fiji in CITES-listed species and monitoring strategy for evaluating established a site on Nukubuco Reef from January 14, 2002. Yemen and sustainability and collection impacts, off Suva, to be monitored for a two Vietnam were also included in this and pilot fi eld-testing is being carried year time period with observations suspension, which covered giant out in Fiji. SPREP is coordinating taking place every three months. This clams (Tridacna spp.), all hard corals, coral identifi cation workshops in Fiji program also has a community–based stony corals (Scleractinia), organ pipe and throughout the region to build component, involving training com- corals (Tubipora spp.), black corals capacity within Fiji’s government in an- munities to do monitoring, which is (Antipatharia), fi re corals (Millepora ticipation of the larger role of customs modeled after Sea Grass Watch, the spp.) and lace corals (Stylasteridae). departments and fi sheries personnel in Australian community sea grass-moni- Despite the CITES recommenda- CITES compliance. Mariculture of live toring program. tion, export continues to the US and coral and other aquaria products is in Japan although trade with Europe has the research phase, and some prod- Management and stopped. Aquarium fi sh and benthic or- ucts are already being marketed. ganisms are unlisted under CITES and The mass coral bleaching event of Conservation are not affected by the recommended 2000 triggered the fi rst major activity Community-based marine ban (which also includes iguanas, of The Global Coral Reef Monitoring protected areas (MPAs) parrots and fl ora such as timber spe- Network (GCRMN) in Fiji, when eight cies). In March 2002, a delegation was independently operating research No established system of national sent to the CITES standing committee groups collaborated on a country-wide MPAs exists to date in Fiji, however meeting in Geneva to seek a lifting of quantitative assessment of intensity a growing network of village-owned the suspension. An agreement was and impact of the bleaching event. This and managed MPAs is in place based reached that in order for the ban to be included evaluation of 19 geographi- on Fiji’s strong tradition of custom-

54 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org COUNTRY PROFILE ary marine tenure. As early as 1992 Taveuni declared a reef tabu area in that are leading to the development of traditional Fijian chiefs in the Macuata collaboration with Resort Support, a more tabu areas. Reports of the suc- area of northern Vanua Levu closed Suva-based tourism and training com- cesses of these projects have attracted their fi shing grounds in an attempt to pany, and funded by the New Zealand interest in government departments. counter a perceived decline due to over Overseas Development Agency via The Fisheries Department has recently harvesting. The intervention was based Tourism Resource Consultants. The established a conservation unit that on the Fijian tradition of closing fi shing impetus was to develop a tourism has started work with a tikina in Gau to grounds in times of mourning, such as snorkeling area and to train locals as promote village-level management of the death of a chief. This closing was snorkeling guides. Since 2000 it has their marine resources. They manage not scientifi cally monitored. been self-supporting and now draws an an MPA around its research station at In 1996, work began in Verata tikina average of 22 tourists/month, with an Makogai Island, east of Viti Levu. (shire, incorporating 6-10 villages) average income of F$700/month. The A new initiative to encourage the of eastern Viti Levu with the Institute tabu area covers 1 km of shoreline and different agencies to work together of Applied Sciences (IAS) at USP, the full width of the fringing reef, about towards locally managed marine areas and local group South Pacifi c Action 300m from beach to deepwater drop- (LMMAs) is being facilitated by USP Committee for Human Ecology and off. Previously, the reef fl at in particular with the establishment in 2001 of a dis- the Environment (SPACHEE), sup- was heavily gleaned for subsistence cussion/action group called Fiji-LMMA, ported by the Biodiversity Conservation food items (fi sh and invertebrates). which includes the above-mentioned Network of the USA government. A Surveys began in 1998 and have docu- groups plus the Marine Aquarium series of environmental awareness mented increases in fi sh and inverte- Council (MAC) and the International activities were held at both the village brate abundance, and have improved Marine Alliance (IMA). Management 20 and tikina levels, resulting in the follow- fi shing in adjacent areas . and conservation of reefs and their ing actions being approved: In 1999, the Foundation for the resources in Fiji is largely up to the • Suspend issuing commercial fi shing Peoples of the South Pacifi c (FSP) traditional owners, and this organized licenses to outsiders introduced the Coral Gardens project network is intended to assist village, • Ban turtle and coral harvesting to help communities in Fiji rehabilitate tikina and provincial authorities to • Limit size of gill nets used (minimum degraded coral reef habitats. They make responsible marine resource 3 inches) assisted Cuvu tikina of southern Viti utilization decisions. • Ban use of poison from the plant Levu to develop an environmental Derris sp. committee that resulted in three coral References • Consider declaring tabu (no take reef tabu areas and one mangrove 1CIA (2001) Fiji. Retrieved January 2002 zone) marine areas MPA. They worked with the major local from The World Factbook 2001 on the A subsequent two-week workshop resort, Shangri-La Fijian, on sewage World Wide Web: http://www.cia.gov/ cia/publications/factbook/geos/fj.html resulted in declaration of a sea grass management and mitigation of fresh- 2Vuki VC, Zann LP, Naqasima M, Vuki and coral reef tabu in one village. water and pollution impacts around the resort. The tourism industry is an M (2000) The Fiji Islands. In Seas Participants were trained to monitor at the Millenium: An Environmental important factor in marine protection in indicator species identified by the Evaluation. Sheppard C (ed). Elsevier. community, the mangrove lobster in Fiji. The Fiji Dive Operators Association 3Vuki et al. 2000. mangrove communities and kaikoso and resorts, such as the Cousteau 4Zann LP, Brodie JE, Vuki VC (1990) clams (Anadara sp.) in sea grass beds. Resort and Namenalala, seek to work History and dynamics of the crown- The villagers estimated a 300% annual with nearby communities to establish of-thorns starfi sh Acanthaster planci increase in kaikoso in the tabu area protected areas. (L.) in the Suva area, Fiji. Coral Reefs SPREP has funded development 9:135-144. and 100% annual increase in nearby 5 of an MPA at Ono-I-Lau, the southern- Zann and Vuki unpublished data. harvested areas, which encouraged 6Jennings S (1998) Artisanal fi sheries most and most isolated island group in other villages to establish tabu areas. of the Great Astrolable Reef, There are now nine tabu areas for Fiji. It is a collaborative effort between Fiji: monitoring, assessment and several important marine species in USP and The Women in Fisheries management. Coral Reefs 17:82. Verata. Network and Southern Cross University 7South GR, Skelton P (2000) Status In 1997 villagers in Ono, Kadavu in Australia. Preliminary scientifi c sur- of coral reefs in the southwest declared a tabu area on a portion of veys and discussions with stakehold- Pacifi c: Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, their reef that contained two deep ers have been carried out, and this Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. In Status of the Coral “blue holes”. In 1999 they began work site may be nominated as a UNESCO Reefs of the World: 2000. Wilkinson with WWF South Pacifi c Program to Man and the Biosphere (MAB) reserve. CR (ed). Australian Institute of Marine 19 carry out scientifi c surveys and seek The Women in Fisheries Network, a Science, Townsville. formal governmental declaration of an regional agency, IAS and WWF hold 8Cumming RL, Toscano MA, Lovell ER, MPA. In April 1998, Waitabu village on workshops on marine conservation Carlson BA, Dulvy NK, Hughes A,

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 55 COUNTRY PROFILE

Koven JF, Quinn NJ, Sykes HR, 14Cumming et al. in press. life, third survey, Waitabu village, Taylor OJS, Vaughan D. (In press) 15Lovell ER (2001) Status report: Taveuni Island, Fiji, 9–10 January Mass coral bleaching in the Fiji collection of coral and other benthic 2002. Unpublished report for Resort Islands, 2000. Proceedings of the 9th reef organisms for the marine Support, Suva, Fiji. International Coral Reef Symposium, aquarium trade and curio trade in Fiji. Scientist contact information: Bali. Report for the WWF South Pacifi c R.L. Cumming1, W.G.L. Aalbersberg2, 9HS unpublished data. program, Suva, Fiji. E.R. Lovell3, H. Sykes4 and V.C. Vuki5 10Vuke et al. 2000. 16Lovell 2001. 11Naidu SD, Aalbersberg WGL, Brodie 17Cumming et al. in press. 1PO Box 184, Bullcreek WA 6149, JE, Fuavao V, Maata M, Naqasima 18Cumming RL, Lovell ER (2001) Fiji coral Australia. Tel (618) 9310 4238, email M, Whippy MR, Morrison RJ (1991) reef monitoring network strategic [email protected] Water quality studies on some action plan for 2001-2004. In Report 2Institute of Applied Sciences, The selected Pacifi c lagoons. UNEP of the Coordination Workshop of University of the South Pacifi c, P.O. Regional Seas Reports and Studies the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Box 1168, Suva, Fiji Islands. Tel. (679) No. 136. UNEP, Nairobi. Network IOI-Pacifi c Islands Node for 212440, email [email protected] 12Tamata B, Thaman B (2001) Water the Southwest Pacifi c, August 27-31 3Biological Consultants, Fiji, P.O. Box quality in the ports of Fiji – survey 2001. Skelton P, South R (eds). The 3129, Lami, Fiji Islands. Tel. (679) of various ports and industrial point University of the South Pacifi c, Fiji 361358, email [email protected] sources of pollution. IAS Environment Islands, pp. 62-68. 4Resort Support, PO Box 2558, Govt Bldgs, Studies Report C103, Institute of 19Obura D, Mangubhai S (2002) Marine Suva, Fiji Islands. Tel (679) 302073, Applied Sciences, The University of biological survey of the Kadavu Ono email [email protected] the South Pacifi c. tikina, Fiji (Great and North Astrolabe 5Marine Studies Program, The University 13Naidu SD, Morrison RJ (1994) Reefs). Report for the WWF South of the South Pacifi c, P.O. Box 1168, Contamination of Suva Harbor, Fiji. Pacifi c program, Suva, Fiji. Suva, Fiji Islands. Tel (679) 212873, Marine Pollution Bulletin 29:126-130. 20Sykes H (2002) Waitabu marine email [email protected]

Mauritius: a small refuge with conservation potential?

T.R. McClanahan, The Wildlife Conser- what are the implications for manage- status of these reefs and insuring that vation Society, Bronx, NY ment and conservation? appropriate conservation measures A possible explanation is that are in place is, therefore, a regional K.R. Moothien Pillay, Mauritius Ocean- Mauritius is in the southern Indian priority for conservation. ography Institute, France Centre, Qua- Ocean cyclone belt and cyclones form tre-Bornes, Mauritius nearby during these warm years. This Geographic Background weather system is associated with H. Terashima, Laboratory of Marine Mauritius was formed 10 million years clouds and stirring of the water, which 5,6 Ecobiology, School of Fisheries Sci- ago by a series of volcanic eruptions . may create low-light and cooler condi- ence, Kitasato University, Japan There were two major periods of vol- tions that could prevent coral mortality canic eruptions, one between 10 and Email address: [email protected] due to increased temperatures. This 5 million years and a more recent one 3 was probably the case in 1998 . Time- at 3.5 million to 25,000 years5. Water series analysis of temperature trends clarity is unsurpassed in Mauritius While the coral reefs in the western and predictions into the future suggest compared with most of the Indian Indian Ocean were badly bleached this southern Indian Ocean region will Ocean and a view of the color satellite and experienced high coral mortality experience the effects of rising sea- data indicate that Mauritius is in one 1 in 1998 , Mauritius experienced some water temperatures later then the rest of the lowest water color or chlorophyll bleaching but largely escaped the of the Western Indian Ocean region4. regions of the Indian Ocean. Not sur- mass mortality experienced in other Furthermore, the local topography prisingly, coral reefs are well developed 2 parts of the Indian Ocean . In 2002 of the near-shore areas causes high around the island and the fauna is and 2003 there was also bleaching water fl ow and hence low retention of typical of the western Indian Ocean. and low-level coral mortality in much warm water that would be responsible There are 150 km of fringing reefs of the Mascarene Islands but again for extensive coral bleaching2. Although around Mauritius except for breaks on it had little effect on Mauritius. The the exact reasons behind mild bleach- the Southern and Western coasts. A current ecological conditions of these ing remains elusive, Mauritius for short strip of barrier reef is found off reefs, therefore, lie in stark contrast to conservationists is a refuge and for the southeastern coast of Grand Port. A most of the Indian Ocean. Why would scientists a control for much of the shallow lagoon, with depths averaging this tiny coral-fringed island escape the recent environmental disaster that has from 1 to 6 meters, is present between devastation common to this region and occurred in the region. Evaluating the the shore and the fringing (barrier) reef

56 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org COUNTRY PROFILE and varies in widths from 200m to 7km. Reef Ecology Scaridae, furthermore species of Lagoons are absent in the south and Carangidae, Lutjanidae, Lethrinidae, south eastern regions where there are The amount of living coral on many of Mullidae and Acanthuridae are also no fringing reefs. the reefs is unsurpassed in the western abundant and highly valued as fi shery Indian Ocean15. This is particularly true products14. In the lagoons, two grego- Reef Faunae and its History of the eastern side of the island where ries, the territorial Stegastes lividus and Acropora formosa, A. intermedia, S. nigricans are common in the branch- The study of the fauna in Mauritius A. cytherea, A. aculeus, A.austera, ing Acropora areas mainly dominated has a history of almost three hundred Montipora aequituberculata, M. digi- by A. nobilis. The densities of these years following the age of exploration tata, Pavona cactus, and Porites annae two species sometimes exceed 100 starting at the end of the 15th century. form spectacular monospecifi c stands individuals /100 m2 16. Aggregations of Sampling works in the region were and these species often leave very Chromis viridis, Dascyllus aruanus and undertaken during several expeditions little room for other genera. Acropora Abudefduf sparoides are also found organized by the colonial govern- is highly sensitive to bleaching and in coral rich areas in the lagoons and ments. The identifi cation and cura- has been eliminated in large areas reef slopes. Small groupers such as tion of the collected specimens were throughout the western Indian Ocean. Epinephelus fasciatus, E. hexago- completed at museums in Europe. Some of the colonies are 10-20 m wide natus, E. macrospilos, E. merra and From 1845-1982, a total of 139 of hard and must be hundreds of years old. E. spilotoceps usually take refuge in corals were reported from Mauritius7. Near the reef crest, the most common rubble areas or beneath tabular corals A recently published study8 describes corals are A. abrotanoides, A. nobilis, in the lagoons and shallow reef slopes. 159 species of which twenty-one spe- A.austera, Pocillopora damicornis, Among these groupers, young E. hex- cies (Seriatopora dentritica, Acropora Porites lutea and Porites lobata. agonatus is the most common grouper branchi, A. striata, Montipora spongi- The western side of the island seen in the lagoons. osa, M. kellyi, M. calcarea, Leptoseris has much less Acropora, although On the reef slopes, some hinds yabei, Pavona danai, Goniopora still quite abundant, but many of the such as Cephalopholis sonnerati, C. savigni, Porites annae, P. cumulatus, other taxa that may be competitive spiloparaea and C. urodeta are often P. palmata, P.australiensis, Favia ro- subordinates to Acropora are found observed though the larger individuals tundata, Favites bestae, Leptastrea on this side. The reef slopes harbor are rare. Corallivorous or omnivorous pruinosa, Parasimplastrea sheppardi, a comparatively high diversity of cor- butterflyfishes such as Chaetodon Platygyra pini, Plesiastrea devantieri, als, the most common ones being F. veroni and L. aequalis) are new trifascialis, C. terifascialis, C. auriga, A. humilis, Porites cylindrica, P. ni- C.guttatissimus, C. kleinii, C. mada- records to Mauritius. Furthermore, grescens, P. lobata, P.australiensis, P. gaskariensis and C. vagabundus are the study shows the highest number lutea, Goniopora tenuidens, Platygyra habitually seen around the coral reef of species to be from the Acroporidae, daedalea, Leptoria phrygia, Favia areas. Large aggregations of planktivo- followed by Faviidae ,Poritidae and matthaii, F.stelligera, Favites flex- rous Hemitaurichthys zoster are also Agariciidae. A few species, which uosa, F. pentagona, Symphyllia recta, often seen above natural or artifi cial are likely new to science have also Echinopora hirsutissima, E. gemmacea, reefs on lower reef slopes. The most been found and are presently being Hydnophora exesa and Plesiastrea 9 frequently observed species of wrasse, described . versipora. Some coral species such as Studies on the fi sh include species Stylocoeniella guentheri, Pocillopora rambling around coral and rubble lists which cited 735 species10, col- indiana, Seriatopora caliendrum, S. substrata in the lagoons and upper lected 654 species in 199511, and a guttatus, Leptoseris yabei, Goniopora to lower reef slopes are Thalassoma published, annotated checklist contain- savigni, P. palmata, Cyphastrea se- genivittatum and Halichoeres hortu- ing 992 species12. Most of the recorded railia, F. vasta, Leptastrea aequalis lanus. Anampses caeruleopunctatus, species are common to the tropical and and Ctenella chagius are rare on the A. meleagrides, Halichoeres scapu- sub-tropical region of the Indo-Pacifi c. reefs of Mauritius and may be seen in laris, Stethojulis albovittata are also Endemism of fi sh is reported to be high only a few locations8. There is likely abundant in the shallow lagoons, while for this region, similar to the Red Sea13. to be some intriguing distribution and Bodianus axillaris, Cheilinus triobatus However, a recent survey reports a few community structure patterns of the and Epibulus insidiator are observed endemics such as Amphiprion chryso- coral and competitive interactions on mostly on lower reef slopes. Schools gaster and Stegastes pelicieri14. Some the different sides of the islands that of young or juvenile parrotfi sh such species, notably Parapriacanthus are poorly studied and understood at as Chlorurus sordidus are a common elongatus, Pomacanthus semicircu- present. feature in coral and rubble substrata latus, and Balistoides conspicillus, The fi sh fauna mainly consist of of the lagoons. Many Gobiidae hid- common in tropical or sub-tropical fishes associated with coral reefs ing in burrows usually inhabits the Indo-Pacifi c region are, however, rare such as Pomacentridae, Serranidae, sandy bottom areas. Papillogobius in Mauritius. Chaetodontidae, Labridae and reichei and Vanderhorstia ornatis-

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 57 COUNTRY PROFILE sima usually appear in shallow sandy up to 1986 and then a decline after researchers and managers are largely bottoms near shores or river mouths 1994. Most of the rise in catch from the employed by two institutions, the while Amblyeleotris steinitzi and 1980s is due to the development of a Government’s Fisheries Department, Valenciennea puellaris are found on tuna fi shery, which is currently more and the three-year old parastatal, fore reef sides. In addition to the spe- than half of the total catch landed. This the Mauritius Oceanography Institute cies mentioned above, many treval- is an offshore fi shery and tuna have (MOI). JICA (Japanese Government lies (e.g. Carangoides fulvoguttatus, a very high trophic level of 4.5 and Aid) has helped develop the fi sher- Caranx ignobilis, C. melampygus, this explains the unusual rise in the ies and coral programs of Fisheries C. sexfasciatus and Selar crumen- trophic level of the catch. The offi cial department but left in November of ophthalmus), snappers (e.g. Etelis reported statistics for the local demer- 2002. There are a number of small carbunculus, E. coruscans), jobfi shes sal fi shery is rather stable and there is local conservation NGOs, but no per- (e.g. Aprion virescens, Pristipomoides no evidence of fi shing down the food manent involvement from the larger argyrogrammicus, P. auricilla, P. fi la- chain. The offi cial statistics do not re- international NGOs. mentosus, P. zonatus) and emperors port many of the common fi sh that are The Fisheries Department is re- (e.g. Lethrinus mahsena, L. neblosus, caught, notably many herbivorous fi sh sponsible for the management of the L. rubrioperculatus) are common to off such as parrotfi sh. The lack of reporting marine parks and also with monitoring shore reefs and are exploited for local of these groups may explain the stabil- of the coral reefs. The two parks were ity and there is a need to expand the designated many years ago but they consumption. fi sh catch categories to include these were not offi cially proclaimed until June Reef Condition other groups. 2000. They have not achieved fi shing One might expect high levels of pol- restrictions and, therefore, there are no The effects of fi shing are clear and fi sh- lution from the sugar cane fi elds and unfi shed reefs in Mauritius and there ermen in favor of pelagic or deep ben- the high population density of people are about 1500 fi shermen on an island thic fi sheries have abandoned many on the island to be responsible for the of about 1 million people. of the near-shore reefs. Fish trapping demise of the fi shery, however, the The coral reef monitoring program is very common and most of the reefs effects are not obvious. In fact, Blue has been active since 1997 and has are littered with active but also a large Bay Marine Park, is at the mouth of a been repeated since 1998 twice a number of inactive or “ghost” traps, river which drains sugar cane fi elds, year at 17 sites around the island. often made of chicken wire. There are and water clarity is high and the corals The method used largely produces notable differences in abundance, size, are thriving, with some colonies being hard coral cover and the abundance species composition and relationships more than 10 m wide. It is unclear of fi ve species of fi sh in 250-m2 belt with depth that are similar to those pat- where the nutrients and fertilizer end transects18. The method used lacks terns reported in East Africa17. Many of up and how such high clarity water is adequate replication for the undertak- the shallow reefs on the western side maintained, but probably a low nutrient ing of robust statistical analyses and of the island have high densities of baseline, high currents and good fl ush- counts of the fi sh often produce many the sea urchins, Echinometra mathaei ing are contributing factors. zeros, as some species are patchily or Echinothrix diadema, and they are distributed or uncommon. Therefore feeding intensely on the reef substra- Management Institutions it is unlikely for small changes to be tum and eroding the reefs in many The government is stable and the detected, except for coral cover across areas. This is less commonly observed economy is highly developed for the disasters such as mass bleaching and on the eastern side of the island. Some region. Tourism is a major part of the mortality events. of the reefs are small and narrow and economy and seems to be increasing Findings of the three-year monitor- not well developed and, therefore, the along with the political and economic ing program (1997-2000) have shown erosion by sea urchins may quickly problems in other regions, such as Bali, a signifi cant decline in live coral cover reduce the size of these reefs. The Israel and East Africa. Tourists view the at two of the eight coral sites surveyed 16 effects are noticeable as many of the Island as a safe alternative to areas but stability in the other sites . The de- reefs are pockmarked with sea urchin with poverty, ethnic or religious strife. cline may be due to the 1998-bleaching 2 burrows and one would expect to see Most people speak both French and event . the reefs reduced in size in the com- English, are welcoming to tourists and Conclusions ing decades. Sea urchin predators tourism is expected to continue as a are very uncommon in shallow water, major economic force on this island. There are a number of unique condi- but more common in deep areas and The University has an Environmental tions in Mauritius that justify estab- sea urchins are uncommon below four Studies as well as a Biology Department. lishment of marine conservation and meters. There is a strong interest in science associated science initiatives. One is Analysis of the official fisheries and technology and to use this capac- the location in the cyclone belt, where statistics indicates an increase in catch ity to develop the economy. Coral reef water temperatures appear to be rising

58 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org COUNTRY PROFILE more slowly than other regions4. This 2Moothien Pillay R, Terashima H, and 10Baissac JB (1990) Checklist of the may make it a potential refuge from Kawasaki H (2002) The extent and marine fi shes of Mauritius. Regional warm water and coral bleaching that intensity of the 1998 mass bleaching project for the development & could lead to the persistence of coral in event on the reefs of Mauritius, Indian management of fi sheries in the Ocean. Galaxea, 4:43-52 southwest Indian Ocean. FAO. Rome case of global climate change. Another 3Turner J (1999) Status report Mauritius. 11Heemstra, P (2003) Pers. Comm. reason is the reported but poorly Coral Reef Degradation in the Indian 12Fricke R (1999) Fishes of the studied endemism. Heavy fi shing in Ocean.. Cordio, Stockholm, Sweden Mascarene Islands (Renion, near-shore areas is, however, a con- 60-62 Mauritius, Rodriguez), an annotated cern as this could reduce the stability 4Sheppard CRC (2003) Predicted checklist, with descriptions of new of these reefs and their ability to resist recurrences of mass coral mortality species. Koelts scientifi c books. change, and may erode the biodiversity in the Indian Ocean. Nature 425: Koenigstein, Germany 13 and resilience of these unique reefs. 294-297 McClanahan TR (1996) Coral reefs Fortunately, the economic conditions 5Proag V (1995) The geology and water and nearshore fi sheries. in T. R. McClanahan and T. P. Young, editors. and high levels of tourism make the resources of Mauritius. Mahatma Gandhi Institute Press. 939p East African Ecosystems and their prospects for closed-area marine parks Conservation. Oxford University 17 6Giorgi L, Borchiellini S, and Delucchi L very likely . Additionally, tourism-based Press, NY (1999) La carte geologique de l’ile and offshore fi shing alternatives of tuna 14Terashima HJ, Mosaheb I, Paupiah Maurice au 1: 50 000, le schema, make it politically less sensitive than CN, Chineah V (2001) Field guide Geololab in many other tropical areas. There is to coastal fi shes of Mauritius. Albion 7Faure G (1982) Recherche sur les Fisheries Center, Albion keen interest among the government, peuplements de Scleractiniaires parastatals and academics to interact 15McClanahan TR (2003) pers. obs. des recifs Coralliens de L’Archipel 16 with international partners for science McClanahan TR (2003) Unpublished des Mascareignes (Ocean Indien data and conservation and efforts to do so Occidental). Doctorat es Sciences, 17McClanahan, TR (1999) Is there a should be encouraged. Universite d’Aix-Marseille II, Marseille future for coral reef parks in poor 8Moothien Pillay R, Terashima H, tropical countries? Coral Reefs Cited Literature Ventakasami A, Uchida H (2002) Field 18:321-325 1Goreau T, McClanahan T, Hayes R, Guide to Corals of Mauritius. Albion 18English S, Wilkinson C, Baker V (1997) Strong A (2000) Conservation of coral Fisheries Research Centre 334pp. Survey Manual for Tropical Marine reefs after the 1998 global bleaching 9Moothien Pillay, R (2003) unpublished Resources. Australian Institute of event. Conservation Biology 14:5-15 data Marine Science, Townsville, 390p

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 59 BOOK REVIEW Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecology David Gulko. 1998. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu. 244 pages. ISBN 1566472342 Paperback US$25 This is a highly informative, innovative, colorful, entertaining book that is designed for educational use at the middle school, high school, and community college level. Instead of a textbook centered on a long narrative, this book dances along with color photos, diagrams, graphics, and paragraphs explaining the graphics. It is easy to read, which is quite an accomplishment, since the author introduces many technical terms, and every page is fi lled with information ranging from basic concepts of ecology to the myriad details of how reef organisms live and interact on Hawaiian reefs. After an initial introductory section that explains how the book is organized and some basics of ecology, the author treats corals as organisms, then corals as condominiums (hosts for symbionts), and fi nally coral reefs as ecosystems, including the effects of humans on coral reefs. Concepts are explained so well that the average person with no technical training would fi nd it easy to read. This is likely to make it appealing to naturalists, divers, snorkelers, and tourists who wish to learn more about coral reefs and understand the processes that control them. Although much of the material is likely to be familiar to reef scientists, every reader is likely to discover new and fascinating facts of which they were previously unaware. While re-reading the material, one fi nds things that had been forgotten or missed on an earlier read. This book is primarily about Hawaiian reefs, of course, but it deserves a much wider audience. All the general processes and principles have applications to coral reefs around the world. Most of the species discussed are found widely in the Indo-Pacifi c, or are so similar to species found elsewhere in the Indo-Pacifi c that only a taxonomist could differentiate between them. Moreover, the author introduces some Indo-Pacifi c organisms such as anemonefi sh, fi re corals, and gi- ant clams that are not found in Hawaii. The net result is a book with a much wider application than its title suggests and the ability to help educate people worldwide about coral reefs. In order to save coral reefs, we need as many people as possible to appreciate their beauty and complexity. This book will help build a constituency to do exactly that. Douglas Fenner, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, QLD 4810, Australia Email Fire in the Turtle House Osha Gray Davidson Just the inclusion of the word “turtle” in the title of this recently published book would ordinarily peak the curiosity of sea turtle lovers everywhere. This non-fi ction work chronologically tracks the fi rst known observation of fi bropapilloma tumors in sea turtles through the very latest research in battling this disease. Although the book’s subject appears to be technical in nature, this work is not full of arduous scientifi c jargon or complex technical information. Davidson weaves a true tale in terms that are easy to comprehend, so that any adult will certainly grasp both the intended and underlying messages with little or no effort. Davidson uses the sea turtle’s plight with this disease as his vehicle to present larger environmental issues affecting the global oceans and natural environments. The author’s deft words convey an air of “mystery” to this fast-paced book that reads more like a novel than scientifi c non-fi ction. Fire in the Turtle House establishes where the research is today, and allows our imaginations to wander to “where we might be in the future”. Names, places and events mentioned in the book will be familiar to many Save-A-Turtle members, as quite a bit of the action takes place in Florida and The Keys. If you would like a copy of “Fire in the Turtle House” and would like to make sure your monies are spent on the research of fi bropapilloma in marine turtles, please purchase your copy from Save-A-Turtle.Org. Save-A-Turtle is committed to aiding in the end of this affl iction on marine turtles and has contributed over $50,000 (to date) to researchers worldwide in the plight to fi nd a cure. Help insure the future of Marine Sea Turtles by supporting this important research. As quoted by the foremost authority in Fibropapilloma research, Dr. Larry Herbst: “Without the support and funding we will see that the Marine Sea Turtles will be Extinct within the next ten years!” “Tropical Mike” Hall, President, Save-A-Turtle Inc. of the Florida Keys “The Fragile Reef” 30 minute video This beautiful video on coral reefs addresses two main topics. The fi rst subject presented is the project to chart the world’s coral reefs. This video shows how this project culminates in a new coral reef atlas. The video also discusses the environ- mental problems affecting coral reefs and their solutions. It concentrates primarily on overfi shing and tourism in Tanzania and Egypt, and shows promising programs to reduce the destruction of coral reefs and use reefs sustainably.

60 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org BOOK REVIEW

This video presents an excellent introduction to these topics. It is easy to understand and would be great for classroom use, and the beautiful presentation should inspire students. Due to the brief nature of the video, instructors may want to supplement the these subjects with additional information. Doug Fenner Field Guide to Corals of Mauritius 2002. Pillay RM, Terashima H, Venkatasami A, and Uchida H. Albion Fisheries Research Centre, Mauritius. 334 pages. By Douglas Fenner This is the fi rst fi eld guidebook to the corals of any location in the western Indian Ocean that I am aware of. It includes 163 species, 159 of which are Scleractinia. The book includes a short, easy to read, and informative introduction to corals, reefs, and Mauritius. It also includes keys to all the genera and species included in the book. Two pages are devoted to each species. The left hand page provides a description of the species with suborder, family, full name (including author and year), description, habitat and abundance, and distribution. The appearance of the living coral on the reef is described and the appearance of the skeleton is occasionally included. The right hand page presents 3-4 quality photos, 2-3 of which are color photos of the living coral, and one black and white photo of the skeleton. The largest photo at the top is of the whole colony, and below it are smaller close-ups of parts of the colony. The photos are sharp and have good color. The book includes 21 species that are newly recorded for Mauritius, and 10 are new records for the western Indian Ocean. One species was previously known only in the Red Sea, two were previously known only in Oman and Yemen, and another was previously known only in the Chagos archipelago. The authors are clearly very familiar with the latest information on coral species, and include several species named only a couple years ago. This is the fi rst report of sev- eral of these species outside of their type location. All of these things are signifi cant achievements and will be of great interest to the scientifi c community. This book will prove to be an invaluable tool for scientists, naturalists, conservationists and government offi cials not only in Mauritius, but in nearby islands and throughout the western Indian Ocean. Many of the species included in this work have very wide distributions, occurring in the Red Sea and well into the Pacifi c Ocean. Thus, this fi eld guide book can be utilized far beyond Mauritius. This book will also help to build a constituency for the conservation of coral reefs in Mauritius, as many Mauritians will be amazed to see the many beautiful corals that live in their waters. Aquarium Corals 2001 By Eric H. Borneman. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 463 pages By Douglas Fenner This book presents information on the keeping of hard and soft corals and their relatives by aquarium enthusiasts, which might be referred to as amateur biologists or laypersons. This book introduces the reader to the biology of coral reefs and corals, and reviews the many different coral groups (to the genus level among the hard corals). This book was not written solely to describe how to keep healthy, closed home aquaria. Rather, this book explains to the home aquarist the different kinds of coral, how easy or diffi cult they may be to keep in the home aquarium, what sort of populations there are of these corals in the wild, and whether their collection is likely to impact the wild populations. It would be a mistake to underestimate the contribution of aquarists to the understanding of corals and other aquarium- kept organisms. If there are any doubts about this book, it would be wise to read the forward by “Charlie” Veron. The forward is an incredibly eloquent statement on the value of naturalists observing corals in aquaria, and the role of this book in encouraging this activity. The keeping of corals in saltwater aquariums has made giant strides in the last few decades. Once, corals kept in home aquariums were handed a certain death sentence. This is no longer the case, as aquarists are now not only able to sustain corals, but grow and reproduce them as well. Coral clones have been spread around the world in aquaria. Aquaria have long been used by biologists studying corals, and continue to be an invaluable tool for experimental studies. Now laypersons are able to make valuable observations and even conduct experiments in home aquaria. In the process of growing and asexually reproducing corals, aquarists are making many interesting observations, including events that have yet to be observed in the wild, such as forms of reproduction never seen before. The author is very much involved in the efforts to reduce the impacts of coral collection for the aquarium trade, as well as increasing the ability of aquarists to keep these corals alive, healthy, and reproducing. The book includes a mammoth set of references that can be used to learn an astounding amount about corals.

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 61 WHO'S WHO Coral Reef Conservation Campaign The Ministry of the Environment in Brazil, MMA’s National Below is a set of sixteen guidelines that people should Protected Areas Program and DAP recently launched bear in mind when visiting reef areas, whether or not these the Coral Reef Conservation Campaign. This campaign areas are conservation units: was jointly developed with Coastal Reefs Project (www. • Scuba diving is a means of getting acquainted with the recifescosteiros.org.br) (BID/UFPE/IBAMA/FMM), and the beautiful coral reef environments. Before going diving you National Environmental Education Program (PNEA/MMA). should contact professional divers and the managers of This initiative is part of The Natural Ecosystems Protected Areas for information. Conservation Campaign supported by the MMA last year. • Respect the rules of protected areas by learning about The purpose is to raise awareness of users of protected their regulations in advance. areas (visitors and others). This campaign also intends to • Anchor on sand only to avoid damaging corals or other promote principles of environmentally aware behavior based reef organisms. Anchoring on reefs is prohibited by law. on the international “Leave No Trace” Campaign. • Do not touch or step on corals, because they are very Tourism to protected areas will allow protected areas to fragile organisms. be self-sustaining. Therefore public awareness regarding • Feeding fi sh with particles of human food is harmful to the roles and importance of biodiversity and wild areas is their health. a key step to environmental conservation. Building on this • When swimming in sea ponds, avoid using all types of principle, MMA/DAP has launched an awareness campaign skin lotions, because they contain chemicals harmful to at designated preserves to focus on environmental education sea animals. for visitors. Part of the aim is to encourage ethical attitudes • Remnants of shells, corals, starfi sh and other shells are when engaging in leisure activities in wild areas. shelter to other organisms - do not remove these animals The fi rst goal of campaigns for the conservation of wild from their habitat. areas is the creation of behavior guidelines regarding the • Scuba equipment including submerged pressure gauges, various tourism and leisure activities. The decision was cameras, backup regulators and other items of equip- made to follow-up on the campaign by developing adequate ment must be secured near the diver’s body to prevent guidelines to be applied to the remaining Brazilian ecosys- accidental damage to the corals. tems, including coral reefs. • Avoid wearing fi ns in shallow water, because they can In Brazil, coral reefs cover approximately 3 thousand damage corals and other organisms, and/or stir up sedi- km along the coast – from Maranhão State to the South of ments. Bahia State. They represent the only reef systems in the • Move slowly when diving to prevent scaring animals. South Atlantic1. • Laws prohibit buying and selling of handcrafted works The boost in tourism, together with increased popularity made from corals because it encourages destruction of of diving activities, has drawn attention to this breathtaking reefs. ecosystem from all over the world2. It is also the source of • Try to obtain information on tide cycles and timing in new problems and, according to Maida et al.3 and Castro4, order to avoid unexpected problems and dangerous situ- the issues below deserve special notice: ations. • Using bombs, liquid bleach and other chemicals is ex- • Physical damages to the biota: Caused by trampling tremely harmful to the reef environment and is prohibited and uncontrolled boat traffi c (anchorage). This is due to by law. All fi shers (non-professional or professional) must an increase in the number of boats and tourists/vacation- obtain a permit from the authorities. In some Protected ers that occupy the reef area during summer, the low tide Areas, such as National Parks and Biological Reserves, period; fi shing is prohibited. • Predatory fi shing by non-professional fi shers: This • Avoid using harpoons and fi shgigs, as they scare animals activity is highly selective and very few species are taken. and can provoke accidents. This can cause a dramatic reduction in the targeted spe- • When visiting a natural ecosystem, take the trash you cies, such as fi sh from the Serranidae family (jewfi sh, produce back with you. Never throw plastic bags in the wrasses and groupers), or those species considered to be ocean. “suitable” for display in aquariums or as souvenirs; and, • Do not collect anything, make sure you “leave no trace” • Pollution: trash (solid waste). by taking away only memories and pictures. In view of the vulnerability of such ecosystems by human The overall purpose of the campaign was to create actions in the coastal zone, several protective measures are attractive materials so that the guidelines could be easily necessary, including a public awareness campaign regard- remembered. Three different types of campaign materials ing the population’s role in protecting and preserving these have been designed to help with this goal. The materials ecosystems. This motivated the creation of the Coral Reef contain lighthearted pictures associated with each guideline, Conservation Campaign. which work as icons. The materials include an A3-sized,

62 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org WHO'S WHO impermeable poster, to be displayed on tourist boats that 2Spalding, M. D.; Ravilious, C. and Green, E. P. 2001. World travel to reef areas; an impermeable brochure, 21x15cm, to Atlas of Coral Reefs. UNEP/WCMC. University of California be handed out to divers and visitors in general and a booklet Press, Berkeley. USA. 424p. 3 containing more detailed information to be disseminated in Maida, M., Paula Pontes, A. C., Ferreira, B. P., Castro, C. B., Pires, D. O. & Rodrigues, M. C. M. (orgs.). 1997. Relatório schools, travel agencies, city halls, and other relevant loca- do Workshop sobre os Recifes de Coral Brasileiros: tions. A CD-ROM containing campaign material artwork has Pesquisa, Manejo Integrado e Conservação also been developed for distribution. Full campaign informa- 4Castro, C.B. 1999. Recifes de Coral. http://www.bdt.org.br/ tion can be obtained from the MMA’s website: www.mma. workshop/costa/recifes. gov.br and at: www.parquesdobrasil.com.br. The protected areas involved in the project are: Costa dos Corais Environmental Protection Area; Piaçabuçu Coral Reef Conservation project team: Ana Paula Leite Environmental Protection Area; Ponta da Baleia/Abrolhos Prates (DAP/MMA); Ângela Magalhães Duarte (DAP/MMA); State Environmental Protection Area; Recifes de Corais Beatrice Padovani Ferreira (Coastal Reef Project); Maria State Environmental Protection Area; Parcel Manoel Luis Carolina Hazin (DAP/MMA); Maria Helena Reinhart (Coastal State Marine Park (state unit – MA); Recife de Fora Municipal Reef Project) and Paula Moraes Pereira (PNEA/MMA). State Marine Park; Abrolhos National Marine Park; Fernando Drawings: Cristina Georgii. de Noronha National Marine Park; Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve; and Corumbau Extractivist Marine Reserve. References Ana Paula Leite Prates 1Maida, M. e Ferreira, B. P. 1997. Coral Reefs of Brazil: an Fisheries Engineer, MSc. Technical advisor to DAP/MMA, overview. Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Sym 1: 263-274. and campaign coordinator. E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]

10th ICRS Pre-Symposium Workshop on Coral Reefs and Global Change Dr. Andréa Grottoli and Participants* (see photo caption for participant list) January 2004 There is a growing consensus among marine scientists that various aspects of global change are increasingly threat- ening to coral reefs. A series of mini-symposia on Coral Reefs and Global Change (CRCG) is planned for the 10th ICRS in Okinawa. On January 13-16, 2004, co-chairs of these six mini-symposia and members of the planning and coordinat- ing committee for the 10th ICRS met at the University of Tokyo, for a pre-symposium workshop (Figure 1). Seminars on the state of the science and new research directions submitted for the Okinawa symposium in June were presented and discussed for the following six mini-symposia (in theme two): sea level and climate interactions through time (2-7), corals as recorders of past climate (2-8), corals, carbon and climate (2-9), reef community responses to bleaching: recovery or degradation? (2-10), prediction and societal implications of coral bleaching (2-11) and understanding the interactive roles of light, sea temperature, and CO2 in coral growth, recruitment, bleaching and health (2-12). The participants reviewed the submitted abstracts, and planned schedules for poster and oral presentations, and the CRGC special session. The workshop ended in the beautiful setting of Hakone, with an afternoon of discussion on the future of research on global change and coral reefs. The participants decided to begin putting together a position statement on the topic and will seek support from the ICRS to release it in 2004. Overall, the workshop was very successful in organizing the CRGC mini- symposia and in stimulating discussion. Everyone looks forward to the presentations at the 10th ICRS in Okinawa.

*Dr. Andréa Grottoli, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, 240 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6316 tel: 215-898-9269 fax: 215-898-0964, email: [email protected]

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 63 WHO'S WHO

Figure 1: Participants from the 10th ICRS Coral Reefs and Global Change pre-symposium workshop at the University of Tokyo, January 13-16, 2004. From left to right fi rst row: Kenji Konishi, Andréa Grottoli, Kiyoshi Yamazato, Hiroya Yamano; second row: Chris Langdon, Hajime Kayanne, Keisuke Takahashi, Yoshimi Suzuki, Mark Eakin; third row: Joanie Kleypas, William Skirving, Kohei Hibino, Juan Maté, fourth row: Hironobu Kan, Hiroyuki Fujimura, Roger McLean, Peggy Fong, Al Strong; not shown: Kazuyuki Shimoike, Atsushi Watanabe, and Hiroko Iijima. Special thanks to the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, Japanese Coral Reef Society, University of Tokyo Wildlife Research Center, and the Japanese National Institute for Environmental Studies for fi nancial support for this workshop.

64 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org BOOKSHELF Don't Spend Your Vacation Walking On Eggshells: Check Out CORAL's Turtle Watching Guide You are fortunate enough to encounter an ancient and endangered creature: a giant sea turtle. What do you do? Do you: a. Charge ahead and set your camera on fl ash to get a good shot b. Shine your light in its face to get a better look c. Consult the newly published Coral Reef Alliance's Turtle Watching Guide, to make sure your next step might not further endanger this threatened species Answer: C. Now available from the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), the single page Turtle Watching Guide offers easy- to-follow tips on how to best behave if you encounter a sea turtle while boating, scuba diving or roaming the beach. Sea turtles' easy-going nature can be deceptive, and well-meaning turtle watchers may be unaware that their actions are harming the very creatures they adore, especially when they come ashore to lay their eggs on their home beaches. Park managers and marine tour operators can request copies of the Guide to educate their visitors on how to enjoy turtle ob- servation while looking out for the turtle's safety. To request a copy of the Turtle Watching Guide, contact the CORAL at [email protected] (or download a copy from www.coral.org). This guide is the fi rst in a series for coral reef tourists to be produced by the CORAL as part of the Coral Parks Program, a global initiative to support the development and success of tourism-supported Marine Protected Areas. The Turtle Watching Guide was developed in cooperation with the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), a network of sea turtle conservation groups throughout the Caribbean.

The Ecology of Reef Fishes, Corals Coral Reefs Fishes on Coral Reefs and Invertebrates of Charles Sheppard Edited by PF Sale the South China Sea Contains stunning photography of the world's largest coral reefs and asks A comprehensive and up-to-date Including Thailand, what is damaging them (a third of the review of the ecology of reef fi shes. world's reefs have been destroyed in Contents include trophic ecology, larval Hong Kong, China, the last 30 years alone) and what must and juvenile ecology, community orga- be done to save them. nization, and fi sheries management. Malaysia, Taiwan, Contains many important and useful 72 pages, 40 col photos, maps. methodologies of interest to ecologists Singapore, Indonesia Colin Baxter; Price GBP 9.00 - 2002 - in general. and the Phillipines 724 pages, b/w photos, fi gs, tabs. 2002 Academic Press GBP 69.95 US Price: Elizabeth Wood The Great Barrier $99.95 ISBN 0126151857 and Michael Aw Reef: Finding the Comprehensive guide to 275 species containing colour photos, identifi cation Right Balance details and at-a-glance information on a spectacular array of fi sh, corals David Lawrence, and invertebrates to be found in the Richard Kenchington and waters stretching from Thailand to Indonesia. Simon Woodley Discusses policies for managing the 144 pages, 300 col photos, 60 b/w dynamic, diverse and fragile environ- illus. ment of the Great Barrier Reef. New Holland Publishers (UK); Price GBP 10.99 ISBN: 1859748910 263 pages, col photos, b/w illus, maps. Melbourne UP, Australia Price GBP 12.95 - 2002 -

Reef En coun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org 65 DIARY

10TH INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF SYMPOSIUM STABILITY AND DEGRADATION OF CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS 28 June - 2 July 2004, Okinawa Convention Center, Okinawa, Japan The 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, Okinawa, Japan, is being organized and coordinated by the Japanese Coral Reef Society in collaboration with the ISRS. The Organizing Committee has selected Stability and Degradation of Coral Reef Ecosystems as the main theme of the 10th Symposium, and has identifi ed four concurrent sub-themes for further discussion and elaboration: 1) The evolution of coral reef ecosystems; 2) Environmental factors controlling coral reef formation in time and space; 3) The relationship between ecosystem stability and biogeochemical cycles; 4) Moving towards a system where humans and coral reefs coexist.

For more information on the 10th ICRS please contact: Plando Japan, e-mail , Fax 81-3-5470-4410 or www.plando.co.jp/icrs2004/ Climate Change and Aquatic Systems: Past, Present & Future 21-23 July 2004, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK The aim of this international conference is to bring together scientists working in marine and freshwater systems with an interest in the impact of climate change on the physico-chemical, biological and ecological aspects of their systems. We aim to fi nd individuals working on historical climate change, those investigating the current impacts of climatic variation and people modelling future climatic trends. The intent is to provide a shared experience, with sessions containing papers from all aquatic systems. For more information: http://www.biology.plymouth.ac.uk/climate/climate.htm 4th International Bioerosion Workshop (IBW-4) August 30th - September 2nd, 2004; Prague, Czech Republic The aim of the workshop series is to combine the knowledge of biologists (working mainly in reef ecosystems) with the experience of palaeontologists interested in bioerosion of all types of substrates (reefs and other calcareous matters, wood, bone, etc.). All participants should communicate their results or problems as talks, posters or presentations of specimens. The workshop will be held at the Czech National Museum in Prague. Several additional days of fi eld trips are planned prior to and during the meeting (e.g., Devonian and Jurassic reef facies, Cretaceous and Miocene rock grounds and hard grounds, Miocene bored mollusc deposits, recent wood borings). For more information please contact: Dr. Radek Mikuláš, Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 135, CZ - 165 00 Praha 6; E-mail: [email protected]

66 Reef Encoun ter 32, April 2004. www.reefencounter.org